Armenia -- View of Khor Virap, an Armenian monastery and one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Armenia, Photo by Diego Delso

Armenians Have The Strongest Opinions on Moral Issues in Eastern Europe

I came across this interesting info-graphic by RFE/RL on social views and morality in the Eastern European countries. What I found most startling, however, was just how unanimous are the views in Armenia: 96% disapprove drug use and prostitution, 98% disapprove homosexuality, 79% disapprove premarital sex. This is perhaps the result of having such a homogeneous society, 98.1% of the population are ethnic Armenians according to the latest population census.
Understandably, this creates a situation, where dissent is not tolerated. I remember the struggles I had in the 90’s, when I had long hair and a beard in highly conservative Gyumri. Luckily, this has changed a great deal now and men having long hair and beards are not fawned upon so badly anymore. Still, this info-graphic is truly disturbing to me, because it reveals lack of diversity and tolerance in the society.

Infographic on what people find morally wrong in Eastern Europe
Infographic by RFE/RL
Artur Papyan

Journalist, blogger, digital security and media consultant

1 Comment


  1. So you are basically stating that you would like more people to accept drugs and prostitution in their society? I really do not understand.

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