ARMENIA: OPPOSITION BLASTS GOVERNING PARTY OVER ALLEGED CAMPAIGN IRREGULARITIES
Marianna Grigoryan

EurasiaNet, NY
May 3 2007

Civil Society

With Armenia’s parliamentary vote just over a week away, opposition
parties are complaining that pro-government parties and local
government officials have created "an atmosphere of fear." The
governing Republican Party of Armenia is dismissive of the opposition
allegation, while the Central Election Commission states that it is
doing its best to address complaint.

Problems cited by opposition activists range from voter intimidation
and vandalism of campaign posters to difficulties in finding space
to hold meetings with supporters. "Prior to our meetings, people are
‘warned’ by the police and national security service agents not to
attend," claimed Artak Zeynalian, a member of the political council of
the hardcore opposition Hanrapetutiun (Republic) Party. "People are
intimidated and warned that the meetings will be recorded on video,
and there will be retribution for attending them."

A resident of Kapan, a town in Armenia’s mountainous southeastern
Syunik Region, echoed that statement. "I want to participate in
meetings very much to see what the opposition representatives say,
but I can’t," said the resident, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Our boss has told us all that if he learned that any of us
participated in such meetings, we would not have our jobs."

There have been numerous reports of alleged irregularities in the
Syunik region and elsewhere. Outspoken opposition leader Manuk
Gasparian, head of the Democratic Way Party, charges that the
heavy-handed tactics have turned region residents, whom he termed
"the eagles of Syunik," into "[scared] birds."

"There were many cases when people in rural areas secretly took our
booklets, expressed their support, but said they wouldn’t turn up for
a meeting because they were afraid," Gasparian said. "In other cases,
we would go to a meeting, and by law the village head must inform
the constituency about the planned meeting, but he had told people
that no meeting would be held."

The governor of Syunik, Surik Khachatrian, a member of the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia, has stated that he has had nothing to
do with supposed obstructionist campaign tactics.

One human rights organization representative expressed unease over
the current campaign atmosphere, calling the situation far from
"an equal and fair pre-election struggle."

The Helsinki Citizens Assembly states that it has detected instances
of campaign-related intimidation in the northern Armenian towns of
Stepanavan, Spitak, Alaverdi, Vanadzor and Tashir. "There is pressure,
and it mainly comes from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia,"
charged Artur Sakunts, chairman of the Vanadzor branch of the Helsinki
Citizens Assembly. "Nearly all employers [and] state officials are
affiliated with the Republicans and they dictate the rules; that is
to say, putting pressure on their employees."

Article 18 of the Election Code stipulates that "state bodies"
must ensure the right to assembly, including providing parties
and candidates with "halls and other premises, upon the request of
electoral commissions." Opposition activists contend that authorities
have manipulated the regulations, demanding "rent" money in exchange
for assigning a meeting space, engineering sudden electricity cuts
during opposition events, and refusing to grant permission for outdoor
political rallies (often because of pre-scheduled concerts).

One village head in a region north of Yerevan appeared to admit
the existence of a coordinated effort to hamper opposition campaign
activities. "I have been warned separately by the Prosperous Armenia
Party and the Republican Party that I must ensure a [landslide]
vote in their favor," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

At Republican Party headquarters, though, officials strongly reject
the notion that their party is resorting to such tactics. "There is
no such thing," Republican Party political council and parliamentary
faction member Armen Ashotian said when asked to respond to the village
head’s comments. "The Republican Party does not put any pressure on
anyone and comments like these are the result of fantasizing."

"Certain opposition forces use imaginary obstacles to explain their
lack of political competitiveness," Ashotian continued. "If people
do not turn out for meetings, then they don’t have much trust and
interest in that party. If a party lacks intellectual, human and
program resources, it tries to blame its failure on authorities."

A Prosperous Armenia Party official similarly dismissed such reports.

By law, the Central Election Commission must address a complaint
about campaign rallies within five days of their receipt.

Spokesperson Tsovinar Khachatrian states that the CEC has received
"several" complaints from parties and candidates, but notes that
difficulties exist for addressing all such instances. "Sometimes
parties do not complain to us, but, for instance, to the city
government or to another institution," Khachatrian said, who maintains
that the CEC doesn’t favor any single party. "We do not divide parties
between opposition and pro-government. They are all the same for us,"
she said.

Torn opposition campaign posters throughout northern Armenian towns
serve as another sign of obstructionist activity, suggested Sakunts,
the Helsinki Citizens Assembly representative. "If new posters
are put up, they are again torn down within a day. [It] is not
accidental, given the fact that no such things happen to the posters
of pro-government [parties and candidates]."

Opposition members often say that they are often not given space
for posting ads. The latest interim report of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe/Office for Democratic Institutions
and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) cites this problem in Yerevan, where
certain parties have been unable to buy billboard space since it is
"all sold out."

Much of the space, the report said, is occupied by a "highly visible"
Defense Ministry campaign for the 15th anniversary of the Armenian
army, which is expected to last until "at least" the May 9 Victory
Day holiday, three days before the election. OSCE/ODIHR Media Analyst
Ivan Godarsky told EurasiaNet that "observations are continuing" about
difficulties for opposition campaigning. Concerns will be reflected
in a statement to be released immediately after the May 12 vote,
he said, as well as in the final report due six to eight weeks after
the elections.

Editor’s Note: Marianna Grigoryan is a reporter for the independent
online weekly ArmeniaNow in Yerevan.