PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL TAKES POLICE AGENCY TO COURT OVER ELIGIBILITY
By Karine Kalantarian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Dec 3 2007

A Yerevan court has until Tuesday evening to rule on whether opposition
member Aram Karapetian is eligible to stand for president in next
year’s election.

Last week, the Visa and Passport Department of the Armenian police
denied the leader of the Nor Zhamanakner party evidence of his 10-year
permanent residence in Armenia invoking data showing his absence from
the republic in the period from 1997 to 2002.

Karapetian, who was allowed to participate in the presidential election
in 2003 with evidence of his Armenia residence provided by the same
police agency, filed a court action last week seeking to be reinstated
in his right to contest the February 19 vote.

Appearing before court on Monday, Karapetian, who has extensive
business connections in Moscow, Russia, submitted a number of petitions
indicating the sources of proof that he has permanently resided in the
republic in the past decade, including the Central Election Commission,
the military enlistment office, the police of the Davidashen district
of Yerevan where he claims to be registered, and others.

Hovannes Kocharian, representing the police department in court, asked
for two days to be given to the respondent to study the materials
related to the case.

But Karapetian, who filed his lawsuit on November 29, reminded the
court that under the law such disputes need to be resolved within a
five-day period the longest.

"Otherwise I will consider it a gross violation of law and a political
order from the police," Karapetian warned.

To save time, Karapetian agreed to withdraw five of his six petitions,
and only asked the court to consider his registration for the 2003
presidential election as a precedent and order all necessary document
proof from the archives. The judge scheduled the next hearing for
Tuesday.

The police representative in court declined to talk to RFE/RL, saying
he "has no powers" to give interviews to the media.

Meanwhile, Karapetian told reporters that legally his lawsuit cannot
be rejected, but at the same time he expressed conviction that in
the end the court will make a "political decision."

"A political order will be accepted and corresponding political
actions will be carried out," Karapetian said. "No matter whether
I am disqualified from the race or not, I am convinced the upcoming
elections will provide the grounds for changing these authorities."

All potential candidates seeking registration in Armenian presidential
elections are required to produce evidence of 10-year citizenship
and permanent residence in Armenia.

Potential candidates have until Thursday evening to submit
nomination-related documents to the Central Election Commission for
registration.