SAMVEL BABAYAN WITHDRAWS HIS CANDIDATURE BEING DISAPPOINTED WITH OPPOSITION

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Dashink Party Chairman Samvel Babayan
withdrew his candidature on March 27 from Syunik electoral district N
37. Member of Party’s Political Board Andranik Tevanian informed Noyan
Tapan correspondent about it the same day.

In the words of another member of Dashink’s Political Board, Gnel
Ghlechian, the Party Chairman took this step because of four main
reasons. In his words, the first reason is that rumors were spread
about allegedly aggravated relations between Samvel Babayan and
Alexander Sargsian (RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsian’s brother: NT)
nominated at the same electoral district, so political struggle was
artificially moved to the personal plane.

According to G. Ghlechian’s observations, the second reason is that at
electoral district N 37 the authorities have already put into
operation all administrative and material means depriving the
opposition figures of the possibility to act and to express their
opinion.

The third reason is disappointment with representatives of Syunik
structures of opposition parties who, in G. Ghlechian’s words, had
arranged to cooperate "even if in Syunik region, but made a bargain
with the authorities."

The last reason, as Party’s Political Board member said, is
S. Babayan’s striving for supporting Samvel Haroutiunian nominated at
electoral district N 37 and so, for creating "a united opposition
front."