Corruption is spreading throughout Armenia, Aram Sargsyan, a member of the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC), stated at the ANC rally in Yerevan on October 15. According to him, one of the presidential candidates had nothing at all except for a private house and a car in 2003. However, when he left in 2008 he was “wealthier that the whole of Armenia.”

“There is not a more glaring example of corruption. Are the incumbent authorities able – or do they want at all – to struggle against corruption?” Aram Sargsyan asked. He is sure that early elections are the only way out of the situation.

The ANC member addressed the latest developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. “In his latest speech President Serzh Sargsyan said that the sooner Nagorno-Karabakh becomes a negotiator the sooner the problem is resolved. But where was Serzh Sargsyan when Robert Kocharyan actually ousted Nagorno-Karabakh from the negotiation process?” asked Aram Sargsyan.

In his turn, Levon Zurabyan, ANC office Coordinator, commented on the arrest of an Armenian criminal group in the United States.

“The crime boss Armen Kazaryan nicknamed Pzo has close contacts with President Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan,” the ANC member said. During the 2008 presidential elections “Pzo” came to Armenia and coordinated criminal actions against Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Zurabyan claims. “The global scandals will have a serious impact on further processes in Armenia. The international community confirmed that the ANC is struggling against a mafia structure which is actually helping international mafia,” the ANC member said.

Zurabyan also stated that the Armenian authorities are concerned over arrests in the U.S., as well as over a list of criminals among Armenian Government members, which was recently released in Russia. “According to the information at our disposal, Serzh Sargsyan called Vladimir Putin in this connection. Revealing the criminal essence of the regime for the international community is serious progress for our struggle,” Zurabyan said.