FREEDOM HOUSE CALLS ON ARMENIA TO CONDUCT DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.05.2009 21:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Mayoral elections in Yerevan will become the first
significant voting since Serzh Sargsyan’s victory in presidential
elections last year, Freedom House official website reports.

According to the statement, last years’ election results caused
accusations of voting falsifications and lead to collision between
police and opposition demonstrators. According to Freedom House
European Department Director, Vladimir Shkolnikov, Municipal elections
in Yerevan open wide possibilities to restore the citizens’ trust
towards democratic process.

After independence declaration in Armenia, Mayoral elections in Yerevan
will be the first ones conducted via voting, instead of presidential
appointment. Millennium Challenge Corporation, which has frozen part
of USD236 million financial assistance package after RA Presidential
elections, will be observing the election process 3 candidates are
running for Yerevan Mayor. First runners-up are Republican party’s
candidate, City Administration employee Gagik Beglaryan and RA
NC candidate, ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who was the main
competitor of Sezh Sargsyan at last year’s presidential elections.