DISSIDENT CANDIDATES BARRED FROM PARLIAMENT RACE
By Ruzanna Stepanian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
April 10 2007

An Armenian court on Tuesday controversially disqualified the two main
challengers of a government-backed retired army general from standing
in next month’s parliamentary elections, effectively predetermining
his victory in a constituency just south of Yerevan.

The court of the first instance in the town of Echmiadzin annulled the
decision by the local election commission to register businessman Hakob
Hakobian and a local opposition-leaning activist, Susanna Harutiunian,
as candidates. The ruling, which is not subject to appeal, came in
response to a lawsuit filed by another, pro-government candidate who
claimed that they forged voters’ signatures to win registration.

Hakobian and Harutiunian condemned it as unfair and politically
motivated, saying that the authorities are trying to make sure that
the recently demobilized General Seyran Saroyan is elected to the
National Assembly from the constituency encompassing Echmiadzin
and nearby villages. "This was done to pave Seyran’s way to the
button-pressing place," Hakobian told RFE/RL.

Tension in the area rose after unknown assailants reportedly opened
fire on Hakobian’s empty car and burned down Harutiunian’s campaign
office in Echmiadzin over the weekend. Both candidates blamed the
attacks on Saroyan. The latter vehemently denied any involvement,
however.

Law-enforcement authorities pledged to investigate the incidents
but have not detained anyone so far. They instead opened on Monday a
criminal case against Hakobian on charges of kidnapping the father
of a local resident who claims that his signature was forged by
the businessman.

Hakobian, who has been a parliament deputy for the past eight years,
laughed off the accusations, saying that they are part of "repressions"
launched by the government against himself and his supporters. He
claimed that five of them are being kept in police custody without
any explanation.

Hakobian, who is nominally affiliated with the governing Republican
Party of Armenia (HHK), was already charged with assault and tax
evasion after allegedly provoking a mass brawl outside a natural
gas distribution station near Echmiadzin last October. The incident
appears to have been instrumental in the HHK leadership’s subsequent
decision to endorse Saroyan’s parliament bid.

"The state machine is thus giving Saroyan the green light to reach
parliament," Harutiunian told RFE/RL hours before the announcement
of the court’s decision. "They should not hold any elections in this
district. It would be more honest to appoint a deputy from here than
to imitate democracy."