World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
March 11, 2009

Ombudsman Criticises Armenia’s "Oligarchic" Government System

BYLINE: Natalia Leshchenko

Armenia’s state human rights ombudsman Armen Harutiunian has issued
his annual report in which he proved highly critical of the country’s
system of governance not only during the last year, but through the
whole period since independence. Speaking from the position that
observance of human rights is impossible in the absence of a genuine
liberal economy, he attacked "the oligarchic and repressive" state
system, emphasising that "political decisions are solely made in
government structures. There are no free economic relations in
Armenia." He pointed at the office of the Prosecutor-General and the
Special Investigative Service as cornerstones of such system, being
corrupt and non-competent.

Significance:The ombudsman’s accusations are neither surprising in
content nor unique to Armenia, as most post-Soviet countries still
suffer from over-presence of the state bureaucracy in the economy, and
its ability to unduly influence economic actors and processes,
resulting in a "culture of opportunity" rather than a "culture of
law", in the ombudsman’s words. The sheer fact of his attack and its
comprehensive character is more unexpected, though, for in most
post-Soviet states such criticism would not be allowed. While the
ombudsman’s report is unlikely to turn things round in Armenia on its
own of course, it is nevertheless a useful read for those seeking to
succeed in Armenia economically.