Published since 1951
Published on January 16, 2008
OPPOSITIONIST SLAMS ‘DISGRACEFUL’ SARKISIAN CAMPAIGN
- The campaign manager of Artur Baghdasarian, a major opposition candidate in next month’s presidential election, accused the Armenian authorities Wednesday of forcing local government officials and public sector employees to ensure Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian’s victory at any cost. Heghine Bisharian alleged that the practice is widespread in areas outside Yerevan, with local government chiefs and their subordinates told secure a particular number of votes for Sarkisian or risk losing their jobs. “They summon all officials -- regional governors, town and village mayors, school principals, teachers, doctors -- and foist [vote] percentages on them,” Bisharian told a news conference. “People from villages call us and say, ‘My fate depends on ensuring a 90 percent vote for the candidate of power. How am I going to ensure that 90 percent?’” “Every teacher is obliged to bring a list of at least ten people who will vote for the government candidate. Or else, they will have to look for another job,” she said. Bisharian, who is also the deputy chairwoman of Baghdasarian’s Orinats Yerkir Party, did not offer any proof of the allegations or name officials allegedly involved in voter intimidation and other illegal practices. Sarkisian and his Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) were accused by the opposition of using similar methods to score a landslide victory in the May 2007 parliamentary elections. The allegations, backed up by some media reports, were denied by the HHK. They also did not keep international observers from describing those elections as largely democratic. “We stand for democratic ideas and believe that these elections too must meet democratic standards,” Eduard Sharmazanov, a spokesman for the HK and the Sarkisian campaign, told RFE/RL on Wednesday. Sharmazanov dismissed Bisharian’s claims as “slander.” “It is obvious to many sections of our public that the Republican Party and Serzh Sarkisian’s campaign team in particular want a civilized and democratic electoral race,” he said. “We believe that it is impossible to become president by force in the 21st century.” Bisharian insisted, nonetheless, that Sarkisian’s campaigning methods are already calling into question the freedom and fairness of the February 19 election. “This is a disgrace,” she said. “What’s the point of holding presidential elections in the first place?” Bisharian went on to warn that Orinats Yerkir will urge supporters to take to the streets if the vote is rigged by the authorities. Similar threats have also been made by another leading opposition candidate, former President Levon Ter-Petrosian. (Photolur photo)
- By Ruzanna Stepanian
Headlines for January 16, 2008
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Russia’s state-run railway operator formally took over the long-term management of Armenia’s rail network on Wednesday, pledging to give it a new lease of life with hundreds of millions of dollars in ...OPPOSITIONIST SLAMS ‘DISGRACEFUL’ SARKISIAN CAMPAIGN
By Ruzanna StepanianThe campaign manager of Artur Baghdasarian, a major opposition candidate in next month’s presidential election, accused the Armenian authorities Wednesday of forcing local government officials and public ...JOURNALIST ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING PRO-GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGNER
By Karine KalantarianA prominent Armenian journalist and political analyst confirmed on Wednesday that he has been questioned by the police for allegedly assaulting an activist of a small pro-government party who urged him ...
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Today in Armenian history- -356 Birth of Alexander the Great. Although the borders of his empire did not include Armenia, his cultural legacy was deeply felt in Armenia.
- 1892 Birth of the Armenian-French writer Hratsh Zardaryan.
- 1894 Birth of writer Mateos Zarifian.
- 1906 Birth of architect Hrayr Isabekyan in Igdir.
- 1924 The former Military Administration Square is renamed Lenin Square. Presently, it is Republic Square.
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