Sona Ayvazyan, Deputy Director of Transparency International Anticorruption Center was the guest of Radio Liberty’s “Sunday Analytical with Harry Tamrazian” show. It addressed the resignation of 12th Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and discussed about his 6-year tenure. They also spoke if it was possible to bring change in the government’s policy, given the lack of political leverages and the convergence of political and economic interests, and what could be done against oligarchic system. Prime Minister Sargsyan’s tenure was marked with international financial and economic crisis and scandals – Nairit, debt for Russian gas supplies, Cyprus offshore.

After several years of double-digit economic growth, Armenia faced a severe economic recession which was the world's fourth largest recession, with GDP declining more than 14% in 2009. Up to now Armenia was unable to recover the pre-crisis - 2008 level of its economy. In 2013 economic growth in Armenia was 3,5% instead of the 7% mentioned by the president.

According to Sona Ayvazyan the government is corrupt since public officials have private interests which improperly influence the performance of their official duties and responsibilities. In this respect both the National Assembly and the government are corrupt. There is enough information and investigative materials about some officials, however, they do not attempt to tackle the problem. The prosecutor’s office repeatedly stressed its standpoint regarding applications filed by TIAC office, telling that they do not see corpus delicti, for instance that the Minister of Nature Protection is engaged in entrepreneur activities. The Ethics Commission for High Ranking Officials does not see a problem either that close relations of Gagik Khachatryan, Head of the RA State Revenue Committee are engaged in business activities and they are granted certain privileges.

Corruption is favored by the highest level and the government is per se a tool in the hands of the president. When the Prime Minister was newly appointed he attempted to show that he was a bearer of democratic values and had certain contribution in e-government and encouraged public participation in the process of decision making on legal acts. During the first months of his tenure he attempted to meet with civil society representatives, and solve certain problems, however at a certain time several months later he failed to do it, since the Prime Minister was not allowed to do at least what he showed he wanted to do. That policy would naturally serve the business interests of a group of people. The Prime Minister had certain business interest and last year’s offshore scandal was its exposure. Tigran Sargsyan as PM was answerable for corruptness of all members of the cabinet he governed.

Other guests of the show were Karen Vardanyan, Executive Director of the Union of Information Technology Enterprises, Styopa Safaryan, Secretary General of Heritage Party, Davit Manukian, a leader of the Dem Em (I Am Against) pressure group.