"AUTHORITIES MAKE DESPARATE ATTEMPTS TO SAVE THEMSELVES FROM INEVITABLE DEFEAT," NIKOL PASHINIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 20, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. "The authorities are making
desparate attempts to save themselves from the inevitable defeat,
as according to all the studies and the results of the exit poll,
RA presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian is winning in the
presidential elections with a great advantage," Nikol Pashinian, a
member of the central headquarters of candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian,
stated at the press conference held on February 19. According to
him, presidential candidate Serge Sargsian, the RA Prime Minister,
"is organizing a criminal revolution in Armenia." In the words of
Nikol Pashinian, "there are criminal elements in the first line in
all the polling stations and these elements are defended by the police.

Thus, according to him, the law enforcement system serves to criminal
elements, who in their turn serve Serge Sargsian.

Nikol Pashinian also mentioned that Serge Sargsian is being
disgracefully defeated, therefore electoral violations of great extent
are being recorded in almost all the polling stations. According to
him, stuffing cases have been recorded in 11/05, 11/07, 11/10, 12/31,
13/01 and other polling stations. In addition to this, commanders were
present at the ballot of soldiers in the region of Tavush, which is an
infringement of the Electoral Code. Thus, commanders dressed in civil
clothes were sitting in Stations 40/35 of the village of Aknaghbyur
and of Lusadzor with the certificate of an observer of the "Institute
of Free Sociaty". And the ballot-cells were fixed on the wall.

It was mentioned that no electoral violation received response by law
enforcement bodies. Nikol Pashinian mentioned that Marzpet Ayvazian,
the empowered person of the candidate, in Polling Station 7/11 of
the Malatia-Sebastia community was submitted to a good hiding, was
brought out of the polling station by force and so far nobody knows
where he is. And the ballot-papers had already finished in the village
of Zolakar of the region of Gegharkunik as of 17:45, people went to
vote, however, there were no ballot-papers.

Headquarters member Grigor Haroutiunian declared that the supporters
of Serge Sargsian "are trying to involve the people and them into an
instigation by all means." he made assertions that the supporters
of Levon Ter-Petrosian are preserving balance. He also denied the
information, according to which it is their supporters, who are
instigating disorders.

"We are sure that we will gain a crushing victory in the very first
stage," Grigor Haroutiunian said. In his words, "the authorities
are making a complete use of the state machine for holding forcible
elections in Armenia." "All the electoral violations are in favour
of the candidate of the authorities, however, the people will be the
owner of their vote," he said.

It was also mentioned that the supporters of Levon Ter-Petrosian will
continue to struggle by using all the legal and political opportunities
defined by law.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress