THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE NKR NATIONAL SECURITY SERVICE MAY BECOME THE NKR PRESIDENT, THE DATA OF THE PUBLIC OPINION POLL SAY

ArmInfo
2007-06-18 18:54:00

As director of the research centre "Sociometer" Aharon Adibekyan
said at the press-conference in Urbat club today, according to the
public opinion poll, 60% of respondent are ready to support Bako
Sahakyan’s candidacy at the presidential election that will be held on
19 July in Karabakh. He also added that he has got not more than 1.5%
rivals. The majority of respondents say about humanism of Sahakyan,
his readiness to give aid to those who need that, big experience and
participation in the Karabakh war. Adibekyan declined to comment on
the rumours about the spy activity of Sahakyan and is allegedly big
"freaky" experience.

Adibekyan named the NKR Deputy Foreign Minister Masis Mailyan as
Saakyan’s main opponent at the presidential election. According to the
public opinion poll, 3% of respondent were for Mailyan’s candidacy,
and 5% said they wanted to see him at the post of the NKR president. At
the same time 1% of respondents were against his candidacy. Adibekyan
also added that the major part of Mailyan’s supporters live in
Stepanakert (about 10%), but this number decreases 3-4 times in the
regions. He also said that it is not ruled out that the incumbent
president Arkadiy Gukasyan may affect the results of the presidential
election. According to the data of the public opinion poll, about 60%
of respondents consider Mailyan’s activity "chiefly positive" and
only 11% "extremely negative". Thus, distribution of forces at the
election may change if Gukasyan will "prefer" one of the candidates.

To note, 700 residents from Stepanakert, 6 regional centres and 11
big inhabited localities participated in the public opinion poll.