Demographic crisis takes lead in Armenia

/By Azernews/

By Gunay Camal

Population of Armenia continues decreasing in number thus deepening the demographic crisis in the country caused by gap between the government and people.

The post Soviet republic recorded a drop in number of population by 12,300 people in April 2016 compared to the same period of 2015, the National Statistical Service said.

Resident population of Armenia made up 2,994,400 people as of April 1, 2016. The country has seen decrease in the number of population by 4,200 since early 2016 due to the excess of the negative migration balance, which is 5,700 people, compared with the natural growth of the population – 1,500 people.

Most part of the Armenian migrants are believed to have gone to Russia and other CIS countries to earn for life.

A recent Gallup International study has revealed that a whopping 40 percent of Armenians want to leave Armenia. Experts name corruption, injustice, crime and economic problems among the main reasons for shrinking Armenian population.

Armenians mainly prefer the life abroad due to the corrupted Sargsyan regime, undemocratic and non-promising political system. Over 70 percent of Armenians believe that Armenia is not a democratic country, while 80 percent of Armenian population says Armenia will move toward authoritarianism or totalitarianism in the case of maintaining the present system.

Worsening economy and political tension affect the life standards in Armenia. The aggressive policy towards neighboring Azerbaijan did not allow a recovery for Armenian economy, and left it aside from all huge regional economic projects. Due to its groundless territorial claims and internal conflicts in Armenia, foreign investment did not come to the country, while its neighbors enjoyed the foreign investments.

When Armenia refused to withdraw its occupying forces from Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh and seven regions, Ankara also cut its diplomatic relations with Yerevan and closed borders. Armenia turned into a landlocked and volatile geographic location, which was badly hurt by each global economic crisis.

Its destructive political policy resulted in the deplorable situation in the country, as well as in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region. During the year 2015 alone, more than 50,000 people left Armenia, according to Armenian media.

Many Armenians left the country following the recent hostilities on the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops that erupted following Armenian provocation. Also, Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh have been migrating to Yerevan, as they don’t want to die here for the occupied lands. Armenians who were allocated in Karabakh leave massively here when they find an opportunity.

Following the results of an appropriate survey, almost 32 percent of respondents are ready to leave because of lack of work, 30 percent due to hopelessness, 20 percent due to lack of justice, and 17 percent due to lack of livelihood.

The studies clearly show that the number of Armenians planning to emigrate is not decreasing, whilst the government is still unwilling to change the situation. Vague future and lack of hope for better life regularly pushes people in this poor country to go to streets to demand answers for many questions...