ORINATS YERKIR CANDIDATE REQUESTS VOTER RECOUNT

Armenpress
May 15 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 15, ARMENPRESS: A territorial election commission in
the northwestern province of Shirak has started a recount of ballots
in number 33 constituency in which, Hovhannes Margarian, a candidate
from the opposition Orinats Yerkir party of ex-parliament chairman
Arthur Baghdasarian was running for parliament in May 12 polls.

The recount was started after Margarian lodged an official complaint
that the voting in 79 precincts of the constituency was marred by
wholesale breaches.

The recount ballots will then be compared with official protocols
compiled by election commissions in these polling stations.

On May 14 the territorial commission recounted ballots in number 74
polling station. Commission chairman Seyran Mkrtchian told Armenpress
that the recounting found that unused ballots were destroyed in
violation of the procedure.

He said recounting in each precinct requires at least five hours and
the final result will be clear on May 17.

Hovhannes Margarian lost the election in this constituency under
the majoritarian system but was elected to parliament under the
proportional system (by his party’s list.)