In Armenia corruption is rampant, and there’s a huge gap between the rich and poor, said the author.

“Armenians don’t think much about what’s going on elsewhere. Their focus is their own survival,” the author said in her article.

According to the author, the government’s pension reform program of 2013 didn’t help our strapped pensioners. It simply made working people’s paychecks smaller by forcing them to make mandatory pension-system contributions.

“Mediocre students can enter elite university by paying bribes. And they get through it without having to attend class – also with bribes,” Sahakyan said. “If you need an operation or extensive treatment, you’d better have bribe money. Otherwise, you may not last long.”

The author thinks one of the major reasons why Armenia has been unable to do better since independence is that it is independent in name only.

“In reality, Armenia is still a Russian colony,” Sahakyan noted.

Russia provides Armenia with most of its gas, and it also owns the pipeline system that delivers the gas across the country, the author said.

In addition, a Russian company owns Armenia’s largest electric utility, the author added.

“Armenia had a great chance to reduce its economic dependence on Russia when, in the fall of 2013, it was ready to sign an association agreement with the European Union,” the author said. “Armenians who knew anything about the world were eager to see their country join the EU because Europe is more prosperous that the former Soviet Union –- and why not go with the best?”

The author continued: “Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been trying to recreate the Soviet Union, would have none of that. He summoned Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to the Kremlin for talks. No one except Putin, Sargsyan and a few insiders from both governments know exactly what was said. But it was obvious that Putin gave Sargsyan an ultimatum. Shortly after the discussion ended, Sargsyan announced that Armenia would be joining the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Community instead of the EU. Not only is Russia maintaining its stranglehold on Armenia’s economy, but it’s also stationed troops in Armenia to insure that its vassal does not get out of line.”

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