ACCORDING TO LEVON ZURABIAN, POWER GANGS IN ARMENIA TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE AWAY FROM ELECTORAL PROCESS

Noyan Tapan
Jan 12, 2010

YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. "Just as talibs in Afghanistan
power gangs in Armenia try to keep the people away from the electoral
process in the elections," Armenian National Congress (ANC) Coordinator
Levon Zurabian stated at a January 12 press conference. In his words,
to achieve a low turnout in elections both talibs and skinheads use
two methods, intimidation and misinformation.

However, according to L. Zurabian, in the RA NA deputy’s vacant seat’s
election organized on January 10 at Yerevan electoral district N 10
the authorities further perfected the rigging machine by deliberately
delaying the voting day. He rendered it more clear saying that
according to Article 118 of the Electoral Code, elections should be
held within 80 days after putting down deputy mandate, which in this
case was December 25. "Thus, the voting could be fixed no later than
December 20," L. Zurabian said. In his words, delaying elections and
other loud violations are a basis for appealing against the January
10 election results and invalidating them.

Levon Zurabian speaking about the action of protest organized in
front of the RA Constitutional Court building by ARFD, Zharangutiun
(Heritage), Nor Zhamanakner (New Times) and a number of other parties
not accepting the Armenian-Turkish protocols classed ARFD as a puppet
opposition and CC as a puppet court. "All this is an imitation the
goal of which is to distract people’s attention from really important
problems," he said.