RUSSIA INTERFERED IN INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF ARMENIA, SDHP CHAIRWOMAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
March 26, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The chairwoman of the Social-Democratic
Hunchak Party (SDHP) Lyudmila Sargsian believes that during the recent
official meeting with the Russian president Valdimir Putin in Moscow,
the Armenian president elect Serge Sargsian in fact established
that "throughout the election and postelection processes, Russia
unconditionally and one-sidedly supported the authorities’ candidate"
and thus "permitted itself to interfere in the internal affairs of
a friendly sovereign state".

According to L. Sargsian, the 121-year-old Social-Democratic Hunchak
Party with its traditionally pro-Russian position considers as
unacceptable such interference of Russia in the internal political
processes of Armenia.

"The SDHP expresses a hope that Vladimir Putin will officially deny
the accusations made against him and will make an adequate statement,
giving an objective assessmemt of the presidential election in
Armenia. Otherwise, the SDHP will have to reconsider its approach to
the strategic partner of Armenia – Russia. We can say with confidence
that the Armenian people wants to see Russia as a friend and partner
and not as an instigator and a punitive force," is said in the March
26 statement of the SDHP chairwoman.