OUT-RIGHT VICTORY IN ETCHMIADZIN

A1+
[12:40 pm] 20 October, 2008

Elections to self-government bodies were held in the town of
Etchmiadzin on October 19. Three candidates were running for the
mayor – Karen Grigoryan, the son of General Manvel Grigoryan, former
Armenian MP Hakob Hakobyan and nonpartisan Artak Poghosyan.

The Central Election Commission has reported a high voter
turnout. Karen Grigoryan got 12,208 votes, his Republican contender
Hakob Hakobyan 6994 and Artak Poghosyan 169 votes.

"Today marks the restoration of our independence and freedom," General
Manvel Grigoryan announced at the central square of Etchmiadzin later
in the day when congratulating his son on the victory.

Note, A1+ has been in all polling stations and registered no major
incidents and cases of inaccuracies. On the whole, the election was
held in a friendly atmosphere. The ordinary routine was violated by
Hakob Hakobyan’s proxy Susanna Harutyunyan who had managed to be in
all 23 polling stations.

"She kicks up a fuss in all polling stations!" the proxies complained
to A1+. Susanna Harutyunyan "was giving lessons" to everyone inside
the precinct. She explained voters their rights, the order of voting
and the duties of chairmen. She also reminded A1+ that we had no
right to shoot the vote without the chairman’s permission.

"What is the use of fussing about?" we asked Susanna Harutyunyan. In
reply to our question Mrs. Harutyunyan said, "See how quiet it is in
here. If I didn’t shout they wouldn’t calm down."