A German public-service television ZDF broadcasted a reportage about the uncomfortable truth of modern Armenia. "The genocide and Nagorno-Karabakh war are the topics that people associate with Armenia. But everyday life with corrupt politicians and total poverty dominates. Young people flee the country in large numbers, " journalist Wolfgang Zimmerman says in his reportage.
"Astghik Tarloyan teaches German at the Yerevan Brusov State University. To make both ends meet, she also works as an interpreter for various organizations and translates books. She speaks German, Russian and English perfectly. She does not have medical insurance: ”Healthcare is not cheap in the country. If I have a serious problem and need to see a doctor, I can not do it without financial help from my parents,’’ Astigik, 33, says.
”Over a dozen of her friends have already left Armenia, having gone to Germany. And many of her students studying German pursue the same goal. Astghik herself has never thought of leaving Armenia: "This is my identity, my homeland, I’ve never wanted to live elsewhere." But, as Astghik Tarloyan admits, now she has begun to think about emigration, " the report reads.
"Astghik is just one example from many. According to a recent study, almost 2/3 of young Armenians think about leaving their country for at least a while. They are disappointed by the political, social and economic situation in the country. According to the official statistics, more than 30% of the country's inhabitants live below the poverty line. Real figures are probably much higher,’’ ZDF notes.
The German public-service television broadcaster also covered such acute topics as corruption and election fraud. "In the corruption index of Transparency International, Armenia occupies the 107th place - along with Ethiopia, Macedonia and Vietnam. The economy is in the hands of several oligarchs: those who are not relatives or friends of the ruling elite representatives hardly has a chance to start a business. In addition, the judicial system in the country is considered dependent - a murderous mix for investors. After each election, the accusations of falsification are heard. The electoral lists include already dead people. In Armenia, there is a very popular saying among people - ‘’Grandfather, if you resurrected to participate in the elections - why did not you visit us?”‘’
"The lack of prospects, often flavored by the state’s arbitrariness makes young people flee the country. One can only suggest how many people leave Armenia: according to the official data, 30-40 thousand people flee the country every year. Most of them come to Russia. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenia lost more than a million inhabitants between the ages of 16 and 30 (one-third of the population!) - and thus their future, "ZDF notes.
Further, the German broadcaster notes that the Armenian government does not seem to care. "It is possible that the authorities benefit from a mass exodus- in fact, the potential revolutionaries along with the well-educated youth also flee from the country. Those who protest do not seem interested in rallies, they just leave the country, "the report reads.
ZDF also refers to Armenia's geostrategic position as a ‘nightmare’ due to the closed borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan.
