YEREVAN. – Any action by the authorities should not solely be overseen, but be questioned by the public.

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan noted the abovementioned on Friday, while addressing the Open Government Partnership-Armenia international conference (PHOTOS).  

In Sargsyan’s words, the state agencies complain that the society is suspicious toward them. But, as per the PM, this is a mandatory element in the establishment of a civil society.     

“The public has a right to be suspicious,” Sargsyan noted. In addition, according to the PM, the authorities have a monopoly of enforcement, but the society needs to be confident that the tool of enforcement is not misused.

“The public should be ready to distinguish between a truth and a lie. The public perceives sensational news, whereas the media do not filter the information that bears negative stimuli. [As a result,] disappointment, uncertainty in the future, and permanent discontent is created,” Sargsyan said.       

In the PM’s view, those people, who cast a shadow upon honest people with their inaccurate information, should be brought to account. But sometimes this is seen as pressure against the political opposition.     

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am