“Power is the biggest mafia”
"Army is the biggest mafia," says Armenian's ex Prime Minister, economist Hrant Bagratyan.
"Army cannot be strong if a serviceman receives indifferent treatment by officers. We face two options - either to switch to a compulsory service like Israel, or to have a professional army. We do not need generals who cannot conciliate with victory. We do not need their victory."
"I wonder how Robert Kocharyan happened to be called a "warrior." Kocharyan did not participate in the war. During the crisis I was with Kocharyan and put down his orders. It was Kocharyan who emptied Karabakh, not Azerbaijan. He fixed the price of meat at 25 roubles in Karabakh and 1200 in Armenia. Karabakhi people drove their cattle to Armenia to sell at higher prices," said Mr. Bagratyan.
Heritage Party is also concerned about army issues.
"Army is one of the sources of corruption. The phenomenon started in the 1990s and has deep roots," says Heritage board chairman Armen Martirosyan and advises the authorities to strengthen army building.
"We must assist the Defense Minister to recruit uncorrupted and unbiased officers," he said.
Human rights expert Arthur Sakunts says army is the most irresponsible and uncontrollable structure in Armenia.
"Power is the greatest mafia in Armenia. Army is simply a structure serving the authorities. Up to day, the Control Chamber failed to check up whether the money allotted by the state budget was spent on the right purpose.
Arthur Sakunts told A1+ that actions were filed against the Defence Ministry. In particular, the human rights expert wants to know the names or organizations supplying the army with food, clothes and stationery.
"Not each general is a genuine general. The existence of shoulder straps does not mean he is a general. Once a general is involved in politics or business he becomes corrupted," notes Mr. Sakunts.
