POLICE TO GROUND THE REFUSAL TO CERTIFY CANDIDATE’S PERMANENT RESIDENCE

ARMENPRESS
Dec 3, 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS: Armenian police will have to
provide weighty reasons to ground why they refused to certify that
a presidential candidate, Aram Karapetian, was an Armenian citizen
residing permanently in Armenia in the last 10 years, a constitutional
requirement which all candidates should qualify for.

Aram Karapetian, chairman of the Nor Zhamanakner (New Times) party,
who said he would contest the February 19 presidential election,
was refused the reference last week and took the case to a lower
court in Yerevan.

During today’s hearing he showed a pack of documents which he said
prove his permanent residence in Armenia in the last 10 years.

The police representative asked two days to provide their grounds,
but the court said they must do it tomorrow, December 4.

Incidentally, Aram Karapetian was allowed to contest the previous
2003 presidential election. He came fourth then.