Opinion: Sociologists throw dust in people's eyes
Our fellow citizens are informed about public opinion polls as much as they are told by sociologist Aharon Adibekyan: either the incumbent president or the pro-government candidate wins in all presidential elections.
"They try to dazzle people making the impression that they had conducted an inquiry," says Ani Mejlumyan.
Part of our citizens believes that none of the sociologists possesses the base to extort from people the name of the candidate they prefer.
"They (sociologists) think that they might harm themselves therefore they are most cautious," said Tatev Ohanyan.
The leader of the Democratic Party of Armenia (HDK), Aram Sargsyan, says sociologists in Armenia tend to ‘rig' elections before the election day. It would be much better if a sociologist were also a psychologist.
"Why don't our compatriots complain of difficult and miserable conditions? They go and vote for the same person instead," he said.
M. Sargsyan is certain that authorities participate in polls to ensure their leadership on the list.
"This again testifies that even surveys are controlled," he stressed.
Vahagn Gevorgyan, a member of the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) recalled that two weeks before the 2008 presidential elections Aharon Adibekyan said [HAK Leader] Levon Ter-Petrosyan would get 11 percent of votes.
"I expect the same scenario to repeat during the 2013 presidential race," said the HAK representative.
There were people among our respondents who knew Aharon Adibekyan but did not have the slightest idea about opinion polls.
