"Atmosphere Of Fear And Servility Has Been Formed In Armenia And Au

"ATMOSPHERE OF FEAR AND SERVILITY HAS BEEN FORMED IN ARMENIA AND AUTHORITIES OF ARMENIA ARE TO BLAME FOR IT," ANAHIT BAKHSHIAN BELIEVES

Noyan Tapan
Dec 7, 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. A round table was dedicated to
the discussion of the interpolitical situation on the threshold of
the presidential elections and the role of society in the electoral
processes on December 7, which was organized by the National Press
Club together with the National Democratic Institution within the
frameworks of the program "Armenia and elections."

In the opinion of Galust Sahakian, a member of the Board of the
Republican Party of Armenia and an MP of the National Assembly, the
results of the presidential elections are pre-determined and society
played a decisive role in that by voting for the Republican Party
of Armenia during the parliamentary elections. He did not agree to
the allegation, according to which there is no atmosphere of free
elections in the country and that voters are afraid. Galust Sahakian
expressed conviction that from the point of view of the activization
of the public factor in the electoral processes, the forthcoming
presidential elections will be a step forward.

Anahit Bakhshian, a representative of the Zharangutiun (Heritage)
party and an MP of the National Assembly, expressed an opposite point
of view and stressed that the Armenian society has lost its ability for
a free and independent election. In her words, an atmosphere of fear
and servility governs in society. In her conviction, the authorities of
Armenia are to blame for it. Anahit Bakhshian mentioned that society
is not a factor in the interpolitical developments but an instrument
for the Armenian authorities in the provision of their reproduction.