The United States supports democracy in Armenia, Spokesperson for the US Department of State said in a statement during the briefing. According to Ned Price, Washington is closely following the ongoing political tensions happening in Armenia. The Department of State called on all parties to exercise restraint and any escalatory or violent actions.
Ned Price, Spokesperson for the US Department of State - “The United States has been a steadfast supporter of the development of rule of law and democratic processes and institutions in Armenia. We will continue to support democracy in Armenia and its sovereignty”.
In addition, The Department of State has submitted a two-part annual report on the International Narcotics Control Strategy. It is noted that drug smuggling, the shadow economy, significant remittances from abroad, and the concealment of assets in the real estate sector remain common and vulnerable issues, despite the fact that Armenian Government continues its anti-corruption programs. According to the report, most of the money laundering cases involve representatives of the former government.
After the 2018 revolution, Armenia increased and improved its money laundering investigations. The country should criminalize legal entities involved in money laundering or terrorist financing.
Another report published by the human rights organization “Freedom House” expresses concern over another decline in the level of democracy in the world. The report on expanding freedom and democracy in the world in 2021 states that the military attack by the Azerbaijani regime in Nagorno-Karabakh indirectly threatens Armenia's recent democratic achievements. According to “Freedom House”, in the absence of significant international involvement, Azerbaijan, with the help of its authoritarian ally, Turkey, started a war that was stopped by Russia, but many issues remained unresolved.
“Freedom House” reports some public circles reacted violently to the post-war events, buildings of the Government were under attacks, while the President of the National Assembly was subject to violence. According to the report, such riots threaten the country's hard-earned progress and can lead to a chain of events, and as a result, Armenia will become like its authoritarian neighbors.
