Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK
May 11 2007

Fear Stalks Armenian District on Eve of Poll

Regional governor accused of intimidating opponents, leaving voters
with few choices in assembly ballot.

By Gayane Mkrtchian in Syunik (CRS No. 391 10-May-07)

Armenia’s southern mountainous region of Syunik used to be loved for
its spectacular scenery, but nowadays it is more associated with its
controversial `marzpet’ or governor who is making waves during the
current parliamentary election campaign.

`The marzpet of Syunik is the master of the situation – in the
negative sense, of course,’ said Harutiun Hambardzumian, head of the
non-governmental organisation The Choice is Yours. `He controls
everything. The authorities organise the elections perfectly so that
there are no evident violations of law. But people are scared and
terrorised. The atmosphere of fear is so strong that people do not
dare to revolt, they do what they are told.’

The governor, who is appointed by the central government in Yerevan,
is Suren Khachatrian, more commonly known by his nickname Litska, a
modified form of the Russian word `lisa’ or fox, signifying his
alleged cunning.

In recent elections, the city of Goris 250 kilometres south of
Yerevan, has always elected the candidate of the pro-government
Republican Party of Armenia, backed by Khachatrian.

The head of the regional electoral commission Arman Stepanian says
that he is proud of the high turnout his district always enjoys, and
that he has never seen any irregularities in the polls.

The candidate for the forthcoming May 12 election for the opposition
nationalist Dashnaktsutiun party – formerly a member of the governing
coalition of Armenia – disputes this, and is highly critical of the
governor’s role in elections.

`In Syunik, especially in Goris, there have been many gross,
outrageous violations of people’s rights,’ said Samvel Harutiunian.
`Syunik rightly has the most negative electoral record in our
country.’

There are many serious allegations against the governor and his
family, several of them raised by the Yerevan newspaper Aravot.
Khachatrian strongly rejects them all, while conceding that several
of his relatives have got into trouble with the law.

The governor’s nephew, Mayis Khachatrian, is serving a jail sentence
in Yerevan, having been transferred there from Goris prison on health
grounds. He was convicted of having stabbed 33-year-old Hovhanes
Badalian to death. Other relatives have been accused of acts of
aggression and violence by the Yerevan media but have not been
prosecuted.

IWPR tried to put the allegations to the governor, but was unable to
get an interview.

Although an election campaign is in progress, the opposition parties
have barely been able to hold any meetings in the towns of Syunik –
Goris, Sisian and Kapan.

When Vazgen Manukian, a former Armenian prime minister and a veteran
of the Soviet-era independence struggle, visited Kapan, he was denied
both a hotel room and prevented from organising a meeting with
voters. Manukian said that the manager of a hotel in Goris where he
tried to get a room told him he received got angry calls from the
police asking why he was giving shelter to an `enemy’.

The press secretary of the opposition Heritage Party, Hovsep
Khurshudian, said they were constantly receiving alarming reports
from Syunik and had lost the services of almost 40 party activists
who came under pressure. He said that Syunik was the only place in
Armenia where voters were even afraid to take campaign leaflets from
activists.

`As soon as they saw us approaching, they just turned around and
left,’ he said. `It’s a feudal regime here, it’s unacceptable for
Armenia.’

Khachatrian said he knew nothing about harassment of Manukian and
that no one in his district was being intimidated. `I’ve been elected
parliamentary deputy three times by majority vote,’ he told Aravot.
`I’ve been elected mayor and head of city administration, but with no
violations. We do not pressure anybody. People have their own views.’

The local leader of the Heritage Party, Mher Kumunts, blames
opposition parties and the public for being passive and colluding in
the climate of fear. `The weakness of the people is abused by other
forces who act more aggressively,’ he said. `We ourselves are the
creators of our fear; we wouldn’t be scared by others if we weren’t
afraid ourselves.’

Meanwhile, residents feel they have little choice come the weekend
election. One local approached by IWPR in Goris market said,
`Everyone here says they will vote for the Republican Party because
they don’t want to lose their jobs.’

Gayane Mkrtchian is a reporter with ArmeniaNow,