The situation in Armenia is complicated. The first term of the ruling Republican Party presidential candidate, incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan has failed. During his five year in office, and in line with official data, the country’s economic growth constituted a mere 4 percent. Presidential contender, opposition Freedom Party Chairman, former PM Hrant Bagratyan stated this Saturday, during his talk with the voters in Ashtarak city of Aragatsotn Region.

“Ever since signing the ceasefire with Azerbaijan in 1994, our economy was growing more intensively than the five years of Serzh Sargsyan’s  governance. They [that is, the present-day authorities] condition this on the global economic crisis. In this case, two questions arise: How can one explain the fact that the economy reduced by 2 percent in the other countries, [but by] 15 percent in Armenia? In addition, the country was allocated $11 billion, [that is,] the same amount as the entire production of our country,” Bagratyan noted.      

Also, referring to the recent assassination attempt that was staged against fellow presidential candidate, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan—who is recovering at hospital from a gunshot wound—and the attack on his campaign headquarters, Hrant Bagratyan questioned the Armenian authorities’ capability to establish law and order in country.