Armenian opposition parties threaten mass protests in case of election fraud
Arminfo
4 May 07
Yerevan, 4 May: Armenia’s radical opposition parties are going to
parliament only to gain a parliamentary majority and promptly begin
the procedure of the impeachment of the Karabakh clan. Leaders of the
radical Armenian New Times Party and the Republic Party and the
election movement Impeachment said this at a news conference in
Armenia-Marriott hotel today.
The political forces organized a rally attended by several thousand
people in Yerevan’s Freedom Square yesterday. During the news
conference the leader of the New Times party, political expert Aram
Karapetyan, in particular said that at issue was not just the current
Armenian president, Robert Kocharyan, but the whole of the Karabakh
clan, headed by Robert Kocharyan and [Prime Minister] Serzh Sargsyan.
"Our goal is to gain a parliamentary majority. It is not important how
many votes each of us receives. Our tours in the regions showed that
80 per cent of voters support us, including those opposition leaders
who do not suggest radical measures and insist on anti-crisis
programmes. If we are in the minority as a result of shuffling, we
will reject the seats and will take to the streets to demand
impeachment again," Aram Karapetyan said.
The leader of the Republic Party, MP Aram Sargsyan, said that the
authorities are responsible for holding free and fair elections. "We
tell them, ‘Do not steal, do not rig!’ But they cannot help stealing,
and the best thing against robbers is a good guard. This is why we
will send our trusted people to all the election constituencies, and
if they rig votes again, we will urge people to take to the streets
and fight there for our rights. If the authorities do not want the
Georgian, Ukrainian or Kyrgyz events to be repeated, they should
think before rigging votes," Sargsyan said.
Sargsyan threatened that in case of mass election fraud, mass protests
will begin from 13 May. However, he did not answer journalists’
question as to how the radical opposition would react in case the
authorities used force.
The leader of the Impeachment movement, editor-in-chief of Haykakan
Zhamanak newspaper, Nikol Pashinyan, said that Robert Kocharyan should
in no way be allowed to finish his presidential term and quietly end
his tenure. "This will mean that we have once again survived the heavy
consequences of his foreign and domestic policy. He has to be replaced
and must answer for his deeds," Pashinyan said.
The News Times Party, the Republic Party and the Impeachment election
bloc issued a joint statement today, in which they once again outlined
their positions and called on voters to vote for the three forces. The
next joint rally of the New Times Party, the Republic Party and the
Impeachment movement will take place on 9 May in front of the
Metenadaran museum of manuscripts.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress