Dissent in Opposition Press

RFE/RL’s Press Review quotes some opposition news reports raising valid concerns with the movement led by former president, Levon Ter-Petrossian, currently protesting in Yerevan. In particular, one newspaper raises the issue of the less than democratic pasts of some of those who have now rallied behind the president apparently in the name of “democracy,” while another implies that Ter-Petrossian is using those assembled in Liberty Square for his own political ambitions.

“What is happening in Liberty Square can not fail to worry sensible citizens of Armenia,” writes “Azg.” “It will probably take the wisdom of the country’s outgoing president and newly elected president to defuse the artificially tense situation, even at the slight expense of their pride, for the sake of Armenian people, no matter how deceived, standing in the square.”

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“Aravot” takes a critical look at some of Levon Ter-Petrosian’s allies, notably the former chief military prosecutor Gagik Jahangirian. “Now that that the former military prosecutor Gagik Jahangirian has joined the opposition they are urging us to forget the fact that his investigators tortured soldiers, that he is the one who botched the investigation into the October 27 case [of the parliament shootings.] We are told to keep silent about that because Mr. Jahangirian is now participating in the break-up of the ‘kleptocratic pyramid.’ But wasn’t he an integral part and loyal servant of that pyramid for ten years?”