MONITORING GROUP CREATED UNDER TER-PETROSIAN’S HEADQUARTERS GIVES NEGATIVE ESTIMATION TO HOLDING OF PREELECTION CAMPAIGN
Noyan Tapan
Jan 31, 2008
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The period preceding the presidential
elections passed with many violations of the legislation, which can
have a negative impact on the results of the elections. Ruben Torosian,
the coordinator of the monitoring group of the preelection headquarters
of presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian, stated at the January
31 press conference.
In his words, the state bodies do not fulfil the commitments
envisaged by the legislation on preparation and holding of the
elections. Torosian said that the period preceding these elections
compared with the previous presidential elections is estimated by
the monitoring group as a step back.
Thus, in Ruben Torosian’s words, for the first time an unprecedented
anti-propaganda is carried out against presidential candidate
Levon Ter-Petrosian during the presidential elections. At that,
this anti-propaganda is carried out not only by Public Television,
but by all TV companies controlled by the authorities.
Another big violation of the legislation, as Torosian evaluated, is
open abuse of official powers by the Prime Minister, presidential
candidate Serge Sargsian. The TV broadcasts on Prime Minister’s
activity considerably exceed the time limit established by the
law. Besides, Prime Minister Sargsian himself with violation of
Article 78 of the Electoral Code continues taking Prime Minister’s
post during the election campaign.
T. Torosian said that the monitoring group is going to present to CEC
the violations fixed by it for the latter to undertake all necessary
measures to ensure legality of holding of elections.