Armenia improves standing in 2018 Democracy Index by 8 notchesJanuary 9, 2019 - 16:54 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Raising its score to 4.79 in 2018 - from 4.11 a year earlier - Armenia has jumped in its ranking from 111 to 103 in the Economist Intelligence Unit's annual report on democracy, which measures a total of 167 countries worldwide. The report gives each country a 0 to 10 score based on concrete indicators (electoral processes and pluralism; civil liberties; functioning of government; political participation; and political culture), with 0 being negative and 10 positive. According to the report, based on their management systems the countries are classified into four main groups: full democracies (8-10), flawed democracies (6-8), hybrid regimes (4-6), and authoritarian regimes (0-4). Armenia saw the most improvement among all “hybrid regime” countries in eastern Europe in 2018, the study reveals. "The 'velvet revolution' against an attempt by Serzh Sargsyan, the former president, to stay in power by switching to the post of prime minister resulted in the appointment of Nikol Pashinyan, an opposition leader, as prime minister. Pashinyan’s opposition coalition subsequently swept the Yerevan municipal election and won a staggering 70% of the vote in a parliamentary election in December 2018," the reports reminds. "These developments, and Pashinyan’s subsequent anti-corruption campaign, improved the country’s scores for government accountability and transparency. The EIU assessment maintains that recent developments in the country also resulted in a vast improvement in citizens’ perception of corruption and confidence in the government and political parties. Meanwhile, Georgia and Azerbaijan are ranked the 89th and 149th, respectively. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |