A New Vision for Armenia?

EurasiaNet has a commentary about Armenia's supposed attempts at political reform, and the recent controversy over the opposition demonstrations and political crackdown.

The Armenian government's brutal crackdown against opposition protests this April, its attacks on journalists, the ransacking of opposition headquarters, and political arrests were a blatant contradiction of democratic standards. Two subsequent court decisions provided further evidence of Armenia's ambiguous commitment to rule of law - a demonstrator who struck a police officer with a plastic bottle received an 18-month prison sentence, while gang members who intimidated and assaulted protestors and journalists at an April demonstration were fined less than $200.

Armenia's inclusion in the US government's Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) may provide the impetus for change, but at who's expense?

Read the full commentary.

Posted by Matt on June 25, 2004 | TrackBack | Email to a friend