We are all witnesses of migration from Armenia. But we do not notice another, to my opinion, no less dangerous phenomenon in our life. I mean the so called “internal emigration” – the marked nonparticipation in the life of the society and the state. And when someone says that politics is dirty business, that they do not take interest in it, this is a classic case of “an internal emigrant”. 

Of course, people in white gloves are not the ones to deal with politics. But why in a country, where there are a thousand and one problems, smart, educated, talented people do not even follow the news? 

Recently I read somewhere that over half of the population in Armenia does not watch domestic TV channels, including news programs. The problem is not only the fact that our TV channels, to put it mildly, lack in quality and are not informative. Maybe they are like this, because some people feel more comfortable this way? They don’t watch it, they don’t know, don’t demand anything.  

And here there is a huge number of people, who do not find themselves in any of the political poles, hide from the external world, demonstratively don’t interfere in anything. 

This is the dilemma: some leave the country with the following words: “A plague on both your houses”, others stay here, isolate themselves from the reality. They don’t support anyone, do not criticize anyone. I understand; they try to be free, without packing… And do not take interest in politics. 

This is why Armenia becomes the property of whoever. 

Naira Melkumyan is the Founder Director of “Aybengir” Publishing House. From 1997 to 2002, she occupied the position of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. From 2003 to 2007, she was the Executive Director of “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund. These views are her own.