SERZH SARGSIAN, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF ARMENIA, STANDS FIRM AFTER POLL-CLASH DEATHS
Tony Halpin
The Times
March 25, 2008
UK
As Armenia celebrated Easter, the President-elect of the world’s first
Christian nation was fighting to resurrect his political future in
the face of a revolt that has claimed eight lives and exposed bitter
social divisions.
Serzh Sargsian’s victory in an election marred by allegations of
widespread fraud sparked opposition protests that erupted into violent
clashes with police and troops. Fresh protests marked the end of a
20-day state of emergency on Friday, despite new legislation that
effectively outlaws anti-government demonstrations in this former
Soviet republic.
In an interview with The Times, Mr Sargsian insisted that he
was elected legitimately and accused Levon Ter-Petrosian, the
main opposition candidate, of plotting to seize power through
street protests. As he spoke, riot police, many carrying guns and
electric-shock devices, lined the streets while several thousand
people marched silently in the capital, Yerevan, to the square where
eight people died and hundreds were injured in the clashes on March 1.
"Nothing extraordinary is happening. There are some tensions in society
but I think the 20-day emergency situation helped a lot," he said.
"This demonstration was not sanctioned but people are keeping to the
pavements and not disturbing anyone, so there is tolerance of it."
There is widespread anger at the loss of life and the emergency
imposed by the outgoing President, Robert Kocharian, after police
broke up 11 days of peaceful protests against Mr Sargsian, his ally,
who is Prime Minister. Mr Sargsian said that police intervened after
learning that opposition activists were gathering weapons to overturn
the election by force. He said: "The main organisers declared publicly
that March 1 was the day of their civil war."
That claim is ridiculed by supporters of Mr Ter-Petrosian, who accused
the Government of planting weapons to justify a crackdown. He is
effectively under house arrest and more than 100 activists are in
prison or in hiding as part of sweeping measures criticised strongly
by the US and the European Union.
Mr Sargsian, 53, pledged to undertake extensive reforms as President
to defuse the Armenian crisis by "hard work and raising public
confidence", but he added: "I don’t think I am the one to blame for
these divisions."
His 52.8 per cent vote in last month’s election was just enough to
avoid a run-off against Mr Ter-Petrosian, independent Armenia’s first
President, who won 21.5 per cent. International observers described
the ballot initially as "mostly in line" with Armenia’s democratic
commitments, but a later report was far more critical of electoral
abuses.
The upheavals in Yerevan have been accompanied by a sharp rise in
tension between Armenia and its neighbour Azerbaijan over the disputed
territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
International mediators were optimistic about a peace agreement
before the election, but there are fears now that a 1994 ceasefire
may break down.
Nagorno-Karabakh, run by Armenian separatists who have declared
independence from Azerbaijan, is close to an important pipeline
carrying Caspian oil to world markets.
Arman Musinian, Mr Ter-Petrosian’s spokesman, said that protesters
would continue to demand fresh elections. He told The Times: "The
regime is hated by a majority in society now, even people who did
not vote for us, so it is going to be extremely difficult for them
to govern."
By Armenian tradition the souls of the deceased are remembered on the
40th day after their death. For those killed in the protests, that will
be on April 9 – the day that Mr Sargsian is inaugurated as President.