Artak Zakaryan writes on his Facebook page. "2018 In September, USAID, together with NDI and CRRC Armenia, "After the Revolution. "The priorities and expectations of RA citizens from the new government" published a research.
Public opinion surveys were conducted throughout the country in 2018. from August 22 to 26. That is, about three months after Nicol's so-called "revolution", at the height of public euphoria.
According to that survey, the citizens of Armenia hoped that the new government would solve the following primary problems within five years.
1. Work
According to the official data of RA Statistical Committee, in 2024 In the first half of the year, unemployment was around 14.7%. unemployment decreased by only 3.1%.
2. Economic growth
To date, no specialist has publicly explained that if it were not for Serzh Sargsyan's decision to enter the EAEU and if there were no parallel exports, relocation businesses and re-exports that flowed into Armenia as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, then what would be the state of Armenia's economy after the disastrous 44-day war? In the case of Artsakh's loss and doubled state debt in 2017. RA economic growth was 7.5% and in 2024 according to the government, the economic growth will be about 6%, that is, about 1.5% less than during the last year of Serzh Sargsyan's administration.
3. Foreign investment, increase of working factories
I don't know how many working factories have been added or what they produce, except for the non-existent Sepuh car factory promised by the current rulers, the Kotayk solar panel factory, the Artik elevator factory, the Merdzavan Armenian television and other household appliances factory, the Armavir garbage dump from the processing plant, etc. But that foreign investments in 2022 compared to 2023 decreased by around 30% - this is the indicator published by the RA State Committee for 2024. There is no information about yet.
4. Corruption free country
This is the "favorite" topic of the ruling CP and its voters. I am not an expert in this matter, but it should be noted that the fierce fight against corruption will lead to another round of ongoing political persecution.
5. Reduction of utility bills, taxes, traffic fines, food and fuel prices
2018 in April 2017 2.4% inflation of consumer goods was recorded in 2019 compared to April. in May 2018 Compared to May, the prices of consumer goods increased by 2.8%. in November 2019 compared to November, they increased by 1% in 2021. in December 2020 compared to December, consumer prices increased by 7.7%.
2022 in October 2021 The price increase compared to October 2023 was 9.5%. in December 2022 compared to December, there was a 0.6% deflation. In some sense, these indicators may not be comparable in terms of chronology, but it is obvious that in 2018 compared to 2023, at least 20.5% consumer price inflation (price increases) has occurred.
If we add to this the increase in fees for various services, various types of taxes and administrative fines, it can be said that salary increases have hardly solved any issues for the average citizen, if not the opposite.
6. Increase in salaries and pensions
In this matter, the expectations of the citizens were not particularly met. The amount of the minimum pension was set at 36,000 drams instead of 31,600 drams.
Of course, salary increases have taken place, but mainly for state and public servants, in the form of per diems or bonuses.
7. Resolution of the Artsakh issue and peace
They said, "Poor citizens. Whom did you pin your hopes on? Victims, devastation, begging for peace in the world, and an important piece of the homeland that was occupied by the Republic of Armenia." it turned out that the interests of our citizens and the group that seized the power were not at all aligned.
8. A strong army
The desire of the citizens to have a strong army was "fulfilled" in the form of leaving arms and equipment with a total value of about 5 billion US dollars to Azerbaijan, or losing some of it in a chaotic war.
Instead of having a strong army, the armed forces of our "revolutionaries" lost their most capable unit, the Armed Forces of Artsakh. The desire of the citizens to have a strong army was not at all to initiate criminal cases against the best officers who had gone to war the interests of the government were not aligned.
9. Improving the quality of education
The improvement of the quality of education has become a threat to national security. Only the renovation of the school or the kindergarten does not mean the improvement of the quality of education. And the amount of illiteracy among the youth has increased from drugs or gambling addiction is a separate topic.
10. Return of migrants, repatriation
If by 2019 there were faint hopes that repatriation could be motivated and become attractive for many of our compatriots, then the picture after 2020 is, to put it mildly, sad in 2021. 73,570 people crossed the border of Armenia and did not return, in 2022 - 27,940 people, in 2023 - 36,510 people. In other words, about 138,000 citizens left Armenia in three years.
If we consider that these people will not return to Armenia, or at least they will not return for a long time, then it should be noted with pain that a city the size of Gyumri, for example, left Armenia completely. The lies and lies of the authorities continue are
Armenia is facing extremely serious challenges and threats."
