17 schools had been renovated and about $19
million had been spent on the work. However, as a person who is from
this sphere (a long time educator) and is very well aware in which
schools actual work was done, I saw in the list the names of schools
that had not been repaired,” says Bakhshyan, who had worked as school
principal before becoming a lawmaker. In response to the question raised
by Bakhshyan, Deputy Prime Minister Gevorgyan explained that no work
had been done in seven schools because of the budget reducing due to
the dollar-dram fluctuations.“First, this answer did
not satisfy me, because in the agreement there is a point that the
government is committed to bridge the gap that originates because of
such exchange rate fluctuations to make sure the program is fulfilled
by 100 percent. Whythe
legislative and executive—and as a result judicial—branches of the
government and without the checks and balances continue to govern with
impunity and reckless disregard toward the aspirations of its citizens
and the Armenian nation.

The
people must rise up and learn their rights, empower themselves and
take part in elections as informed voters and concerned citizens. The
ARF’s campaign, announced earlier this week and officially launched on
Friday, aims to bring together all facets of society under one tent and
engage all voters to take party in a massive electoral reform
campaign. The people of Armenia must come together and defeat the
ruling coalition’s effort to further solidify its hold on Armenia.

Former
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian accused President Serzh Sarkisian on
Friday of seeking to tighten his grip on power in utter disregard of
democratic principles and the popular will. In a