The current situation in the political sector of Armenia is very interesting. The opposition is announcing about extraordinary elections every day and is getting prepared for new elections. As for the authorities, they are saying that there is no way that extraordinary elections may take place but they are doing things that it seems the elections will take place early in May. They have reduced the price of gas for the socially vulnerable groups and are discussing the possibility of reducing the price of water, TV companies are showing scenes of officials protecting poor villagers and farmers, there are rumors about replacements in the government so that it seems elections are approaching. Specifically, there are rumors that the ministers of culture and Diaspora affairs, Hasmik Poghosyan and Hranush Hakobyan will be replaced. The government is preparing grounds for these replacements to justify the decision. The actions taken by the head of the “One nation, one culture” foundation Tamar Poghosyan are from the series of these efforts. According to certain sources of information, the position of the minister of culture will be given to Legal State party member Heghine Bisharyan, and Hranush Hakobyan will be replaced with RPA member Karine Achemyan. There are rumors about replacing the police chief Alik Sargsyan as well. It is hard to say what the goals of these “cosmetic changes” are. The attitude of the society to the authorities will not change as a result of these replacements for sure. It is more possible that with these changes the authorities want to stray the attention of the society from more important issues “until they see what will happen to them”.
