Araratnews.am presents most significant events of 2013.
1. Presidential elections
Presidential elections took place on February 18. Everything ended with a mutual prayer of Raffi Hoivhannisyan and Vova Gasparyan. Foreign observers evaluated these elections as a step forward and political activist drew several steps back those observers, interfering their press conference.
2. Offshore scandal.
The offshore scandal shook the media on May 29, which was headed by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and head of Ararat diocese Navasard Archbishop Kchoyan. Despite many discoveries made by journalists, Tigran Sargsyan continues heading the Government. And the Archbishop sold his Bentley to eliminate offshore traces.
3. 150 AMD transport fare
On July 18 Yerevan Municipality announced about raising transport fees. However, line owners were able to get the 50% additional income. After an organized social movement, Taron Margaryan decided to suspend the act.
4. Closed market-Yerevan City
Owner of Closed Market Samvel Aleqsanyan started turning it into Yerevan City. Despite tough opposition of the society, no one was brought to responsibility and the historical-cultural monument had been turned into a supermarket.
5. Customs Union
On September 3, Serzh Sargsyan announced in Moscow that Armenia wishes to join the Customs Union. This announcement surprised both the Armenian society and the majority of Serzh Sargsyan’s party members. Hence, EU association agreement was not signed in Vilnius.
6. Zaruhi Postandjyan’s question to Serzh Sargsyan
On October 2, MP Zaruhi Postandjyan asked a question to Serzh Sargsyan at PACE. She asked where did Serzh Sargsyan get the 70 million USD he had lost at the casino? This question became a major social issue. Zaruhi Postandjyan was greeted at the airport with applause and flowers. As a result, she was dismissed from PACE Armenian delegation.
7. Violence against citizens.
The year was significant with a huge number of violence against RA citizens. More than a dozen people had been abused for expressing their disposition. The police overdid its responsibility of detaining activists and have detained over a hundred activists. It resulted an increased number of protestors and their steadiness to bring changes.
8. Shant Harutyunyan
Shant Harutyunyan started a revolution. Over 30 people were detained and 10 of them were presented with a criminal case. Shant Harutyunyan is arrested. The result was failed revolution but it marked a start of a revolution of values, which was Shant Harutyunyan’s dream.
9. Putin’s Visit.
On December 2 RF president Vladimir Putin paid an official visit to Armenia. The visit was held in an obvious humiliation atmosphere of the regime. Armenian citizens showed that RA Sovereignty potential is still not exhausted. The police detained 110 activists. .
10. Funded Pension System
NA accepted the draft bill of Funded Pension System, which will start operating in 2014. This bill caused a mass protest in the society.
All the events mentioned above were held by active citizens of Armenia. Hence, Arartnews.am and Ararat magazine decided to name the ACTIVE CITIZEN A PERSON OF THE YEAR.
