The expert Vigen Khachatryan believes that civil society is slowly developing in Armenia because the country’s authorities have failed to consider a number of principles.

“Armenia’s authorities disregard the social contradictions, while society is not in the habit of defending its members. We are just learning to do it. Civil society is in the making in Armenia, but it is not yet what we would like it to be,” he said.

Suren Movsisyan, a member of the Democratic Party of Armenia, noted that most of Armenia’s residents would leave the country at the first opportunity if they had one. Consequently, the formation of civil society can hardly be discussed.

“A person psyched up to leave the country cannot be involved in forming civil society nor is such one going to defend his or her rights. People do not trust the authorities and do not feel protected in their own country,” Movsisyan said.

As regards the forming stage of a society where election bribes are overtly distributed, Khachatryan said, “Political forces are thrusting their electoral frauds on people.” People will not take election bribes if they see a political force worth electing.

People take bribes because they see that elections are nothing but jockeying for power and posts.