The overpowering increase in corruption throughout Armenia coupled with the seemingly unconcerned or laid back tolerance displayed by Armenia's government, has many of us in the diaspora, looking for the government of Armenia to take some positive action against it.   

To date, many of Armenia's trials for capital crimes remain unjudged and unresolved and even though one-quarter to one-third of their people have migrated out of the country. As to those remaining, the majority are still living in abject poverty. So much so that many of those left behind to flounder in poverty, are using whatever means it takes to survive adding more, not only to the escalating corruption, but also to the criminal elements at large.   

Recently, I have been writing about these problems. I've been stating that if it isn't brought under control, that it could put Armenia's independence as well as its democracy in jeopardy--if it hasn't done so already. 

Unfortunately, much of today's status reports regarding nations comes down to how ingeniously those in power tend to interpret their problems. They often try to be optimistic but in Armenia's case, people migrating from there do not confirm such reports. And though their government wants to put a positive spin on existing conditions, those visiting Armenia or who support relatives there also, confirm the tragedy.  Moreover, we hear accounts about multi-million dollar mansions -- "home boy" millionaires with hundreds of private bodyguards, Swiss bank accounts, public officials charged with murder who remain at large and who still seek re-election, laws that tax charities, etc., etc., etc. It leaves one to wonder is Armenia truly striving to become a transparent independent democracy or did it inherit some major defects during its rebirth to independence from Soviet style communism. Fact is, one of the major factors that brought about the collapse of the Iron Curtain was corruption.   

Growing up, I was taught that honor among Armenians was one of our most important inbred virtues. And in citing the corruption which exists in Armenia, I may have, to some extent, overlooked the fact that Armenia may not be as bad as its neighbors when it comes to in-house corruption. But are we to believe that after the merciless history our people have suffered through, which spans centuries, that we are only slightly better than our neighbors? And if such is this case, then what in hell have we as Armenians been so proud of? Is slightly better what one-million-five-hundred-thousand of our people died for in 1915? Are we in the diaspora who grew up hearing about all of the atrocities our people suffered and who witnessed the heroic way the survivors re-established their lives while teaching us the basic qualities of Armenian honor, supposed to sit back and keep our mouths shut and not voice disappointment or shame? 
I think not, because if we were to keep quiet and sweep everything under the rug, the corruption would continue and what might be left of Armenia after the vultures get done with her would probably not be worth saving.  


The majority of people in Armenia are honest, honorable people and perhaps the best way they have of escaping from ensuing bondage is not to leave Armenia but to stay there and to start exercising the freedom and independence they helped to bring into reality.   


Joseph Vosbikian