ARMENIAN PRESIDENT PROMISES POLL FRAUD PROBE
Agence France Presse — English
May 14, 2007 Monday 1:34 PM GMT
Armenian President Robert Kocharian Monday promised a thorough probe
into alleged violations during weekend elections won overwhelmingly
by a coalition of parties close to the current government.
"All violations which took place will be minutely studied and all
necessary steps will be taken so that the law can take its course,"
he said in a statement.
Armenia’s opposition claimed Saturday’s vote was deeply flawed but
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said the vote
was a clear improvement over previous polls.
The opposition in this small country wedged between Turkey and Iran
claims violations were rife on election day, including instances of
pro-government parties bribing voters outside polling stations.
Country of Law, which with seven percent of the ballots won the
most votes among the opposition, backed away from earlier promises
to hold demonstrations, saying instead it would seek redress in
Armenia’s courts.
The German presidency of the European Union also said the vote had
"on the whole" been conducted fairly and freely.
With all the votes tallied, the Republican party of Prime Minister
Serzh Sarkisian was far ahead with 32.9 percent of the vote.
Sarkisian, Kocharian’s chosen successor for president, is now the
uncontested frontrunner in a presidential election set for the end
of next year.
The pro-presidential Prosperous Armenia party of millionaire former
world arm wrestling champion Gagik Tsarukian had 14.7 percent of
the vote. It was followed by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation,
a member of the former ruling coalition, with 12.8 percent.