SUPPORTERS OF SERGE SARGSIAN MAKE ATTEMPTS TO SEIZE "HERITAGE" PARTY’S PLACES IN ELECTORAL COMMISSIONS

Noyan Tapan
Jan 31, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, NOYAN TAPAN. Over the past week, attempts have
been made by supporters of the candidate for the RA presidency, prime
minister Serge Sargsian to influence the members of "Zharangutyun"
("Heritage") party in all electoral commissions with the aim of seizing
places allocated to this party in various electoral commissions. NT
was informed by the press service of "Heritage" party that almost
everywhere the party members gave a fitting rebuff to all kinds of
offers, threats, other unlawful actions.

Nevertheless, as stated in a press release of the party’s press
service, supporters of the authorities’ candidate managed to reach
their goal at one of the 41 electoral districts: under unrevealed
circumstances, Arnak Sahakian – representative of "Heritage" in
district electoral commission No 23 (Sevan, Chambarak, Vardenis)
appointed some persons (not agreed-on with the party) as members of
the local electoral commissions. According to some information, many
of them are representatives or supporters of the ruling forces. For
this reason the party’s board has decided to expel A. Sahakian from
the party and to express no confidence to him as member of the district
electoral commission. A. Sahakian resigned from the position of member
of the district commission No 23.

In addition to the above said, "Heritage" states that the principle
of equal conditions for all the candidates for the RA presidency
is violated by the authorities: in particular, allocation of
unequal air-time, unequal advertising on external propaganda means
(advertisement boards, etc), closure of pre-election headquarters,
refusal to provide areas for meetings with the population, intimidation
of citizens by making demands that they should not participate in
rallies of the opposition candidates, etc.

"Heritage" condemns such actions of the RA presidential candidate
Serge Sargsian’s supporters, considering that such actions are not
in line with the spirit of the Armenian prime minister’s statements
about holding free and fair elections," the press release reads.