The “Arab wave” is gradually approaching the South Caucasus, specifically Azerbaijan. Everything is going on a tested course that did not become an alert for little and great dictators: blocking of certain segments of the Internet, arrests of some human rights defenders and activists. Let us also add to this the 42 years of rule of the Aliyev clan with some interruptions, corruption, poverty of the vast majority, and we’ll get the same situation as in Tunisia, Egypt or Libya.

Predictably, the inflation rate continues growing in Armenia and, according to forecasts, it will approach 10% in the first half of 2011. According to the updated statistical data, 1.9% inflation rate was recorded in Armenia's consumer market in February compared to January 2011. The inflation is basically conditioned by 1.5% and 3.4% growth in prices for foodstuff (including alcoholic beverages and cigarettes) and tariffs for services respectively. Prices for non-foods also grew by 0.6% during the reporting period.

Chess: Armenia’s Elina Danileyan and Lilit Mkrtchyan won their 7th round games at FIDE Women’s Grand Prix series in Doha, Qatar. Danielyan continues dominating the tournament with 6.5 points. She is followed by Marie Sebag of France (5 points) and Humpy Koneru of India (4.5 points). Mkrtchyan climbed to the 7th place with 3 points.

There are over 30 museums in Yerevan, most of them being under guardianship of the Armenian Ministry of Culture and National Academy of Sciences and almost all of them lacking funds and attention. Low salaries force employees quit.

Supporters of the Armenian National Congress opposition bloc are using social networks to spread information about the future plans. Particularly, opposition activists have already launched Armenian Revolution of reform: March 1, 2011 page on Facebook to inform of the actions planned for March 1. They also created #1mar hashtag in microblog Twitter, where they inform of the mass rally dated to the 3rd anniversary of the March 1, 2008 events, when 10 people were killed and thousands injured. Armenian opposition follows the example of Tunisia and Egypt as well as other Arab states, where organizers of disorders employed social media to implement their plans.

All admit that Armenia is facing social discontent and division of the public. Despite the leadership’s resoluteness to struggle against these phenomena, social tensions grow and the recent statements by the opposition demonstrate their intention to grab power on the wave of popular discontent.

The National Security Strategy of Armenia describes low birth rate as one of the threats to the country’s national security.