Hayots Ashkharh, Armenia
Feb 6 2008

Artur Baghdasaryan’s election gimmick

During the rally which took place on 3 February at Opera Square [in
Yerevan], the leader of the Orinats Yerkir(Law-Governed Country)
party and presidential hopeful, Artur Baghdasaryan, said that he had
received death threats andhis life was in danger. Notably, he has
reported this in a written form neither to the Prosecutor-General’s
Office nor any law enforcement agency.

Consequently, based on the press publications, the
Prosecutor-General’s Office has asked the [Armenian] Policeto launch
an operational search to check the circumstances in Baghdasaryan’s
statement and institute legalproceedings. An investigation has
already started by the Police and its criminal investigation
department has summonedBaghdasaryan to provide explanations.
Strangely however, the latter failed to appear in the Police, even
given that the invitation was made for the sake of his own security.
After that, the Police have sent him a written notice. However
thecontender, whose life is in serious danger, has promised to the
police to come in two days, that is on 7 February.

This means Baghdasaryan has absolutely no problems connected with his
personal security, as he announced at therally. And this proves he
was not threatened by anyone, nothing threatens his life and this was
merely an electiongimmick used by the Orinats Yerkir party’s
presidential hopeful. Or he is really determined to sacrifice his
lifefor the sake of Armenia and does not want that the police
interfere in this.