ARMENIA: GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS CLAIM FIST FIGHT "BETWEEN FRIENDS"

Eurasianet

May 19, 2009

The Republican Party of Armenia and Prosperous Armenia Party stress
that a recent brawl between activists from the two parties, both
members of Armenia’s government coalition, does not undermine their
political partnership.

According to Armenian news sources, the fight broke out as party
loyalists were holding competing campaign events in a Yerevan suburb
in connection with the capital’s May 31 City Council election.

Republican Party MP Arman Sahakian termed the May 12 scuffle a
"provocation," but did not elaborate. "The incident was based on
personal motives and has nothing to do with the parties," he told
the pro-opposition A1plus news service. "Am I really supposed to know
about all fights?"

Prosperous Armenia representatives insisted that their party’s
supporters did not start the fight. "We have never violated the
rules of competition. . . . Questions should be directed to those
who started this," Prosperous Armenia MP Naira Zograbian told A1plus.