At the 19th annual convention of the Hnchak Social Democrat Party in Armenia, Levon Ter-Petrosyan stated, "The sad reality is that after 18 years of having an independent state, critical and decisive times await us." Mr. Ter-Petrosyan blames the authorities for Armenia’s defeatist position in international relations and declared, "This is a classic dictatorship with all the criminal characteristics." The ex-president argued that Serzh Sargsyan is paying for each political prisoner with concessions to Turkey and Azerbaijan. "No crime goes unpaid for. In this case the payment is being made from the nation’s pockets," Mr. Ter-Petrosyan said, adding that, "Aside from Azerbaijan and the states of central Asia, none of the former Soviet nations have political prisoners today. Is Armenia to be ranked with those with prisoners?" Turning to economic matters, the HAK leader said that Armenia, with an economic slide of 18.5%, has experienced the biggest downturn of all post-Soviet nations. ‘What has happened in the past 18 years? During the Soviet period Armenia was regarded one of the most developed of republics. We understand about blockades, the war, etc, but 18 years have passed. Isn’t it a shame that we still talk about these things?"