Serzh Sargsyan’s ‘Parade of Bodyguards’ Remark Came a Little Too Late

2010 cannot be considered a year of achievements; we cannot record any progress in terms of resolving the accumulated problems in the country, said People’s Party of Armenia leader Stepan Demirchyan, speaking to journalists in Yerevan today.

Demirchyan spoke of “many problems,” and noted that he sees the solution to these problems as being holding free and fair elections.

“Individual staff changes, by and large, won’t change anything,” he said. According to him, the seat of government or the presidency is an end in itself for those individuals “who are ready to shed the blood of their own people for the sake of this seat.”

Referring to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s statements during the Republican Party of Armenia’s 20th anniversary celebrations, Demirchyan said, with such steps, the authorities are trying to win the public’s sympathy; however, he considered these actions to be a little too late. 

“Why talk about a ‘parade of bodyguards’ now? This perverse phenomenon has long been abhorrent to society.” Demirchyan also noted that those who are organizing this parade “were among those present in the room that day” (referring to the ruling party’s 20th anniversary celebration).

The government is trying to change its image, added the party leader.