“Zhamanak” believes that the shock murder of a prominent Russian opposition politician, Boris Nemtsov, may have “alarming” implications for Armenia as well. “First of all, Russia has a huge influence on Armenia and whatever happens in that country affects Armenia in one way or another,” explains the paper. “This means that Nemtsov’s murder … must also be a subject of very serious analysis so that we can understand the situation and possible developments in Russia. Another worrisome fact is that this killing is the result of an atmosphere of intolerance.”
“168 Zham” says that Sunday’s rally in Yerevan organized by Levon Ter-Petrosian’s Armenian National Congress (HAK) highlighted the need to “establish a new opposition” in Armenia. The paper says that the HAK’s strategy of using Gagik Tsarukian’s Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) to topple President Serzh Sarkisian has completely failed. It says Ter-Petrosian’s party is now facing an uncertain future.
“If somebody had said eight or nine years ago that Armenia’s first President Levon Ter-Petrosian will deliver a 30-minute speech devoid of any substance … hardly anyone would have believed them,” writes “Zhoghovurd.” “And yet we witnessed that reality at the March 1 rally. A politician whose past speeches predetermined the country’s political agenda for at least the next few months does not have a message anymore and does not dare to speak about recent events in Armenia’s political life.” Little wonder then that so few people turned out for his latest rally, says the paper.
“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” insists, however, that the number of people present at the HAK rally in Yerevan’s Liberty Square was not insignificant. “In this new situation, the HAK continues to wield a critical mass [of supporters,]” claims the paper sympathetic to Ter-Petrosian and his party. It says those supporters will never bow to government pressure and stop fighting for regime change in the country. They are the ones who will “select today’s opposition and tomorrow’s government,” concludes “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun.”
(Tigran Avetisian)