“On the third day of the presidential election campaign, it became clear that the majority of the candidates cannot manage the contest,” writes “Hayots Ashkhar.” “Yesterday most of them did not display any activity, preferring to stay far away from the public eye. Only Raffi Hovannisian stunned the Erebuni district in Yerevan with his surprise tour, once again proving that he deserves the honorary second place [in the race.]” At least three other candidates are not campaigning at all, says the paper.
“In essence, Serzh Sarkisian ended his campaign without actually starting it,” claims “Zhoghovurd.” “True, the presidential candidate is touring regions and holding meetings. But he is meeting Republicans, rather than ordinary voters. The logic of the election campaign presupposes meetings with voters, and not privileged individuals. Serzh Sarkisian’s behavior is probably not accidental. The presidential election in Armenia can already be considered finished. Because of the absence of real competition Sarkisian already considers himself an elected president and therefore absolutely does not care about the campaign.”
Aram Sarkisian, the leader of the opposition Hanrapetutyun (Republic) tells “168 Zham” that the Armenian authorities can be toppled “not after but before elections” and that “elections should only formalize that victory.” In an apparent criticism of Levon Ter-Petrosian’s political strategy of the last two yeas, Sarkisian says that public trust in the Armenian opposition has fallen also because it “opted for some shadowy or obvious deals.” The Armenian public is now so apathetic that it would not trust even Jesus Christ, he declares.
“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” quotes Levon Zurabian, a senior member of Ter-Petrosian’s Armenian National Congress (HAK), as saying in the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) on Wednesday that elections in Armenia have become a “farce” and they cannot lead to government change. He charged that “the ruling regime has created a horrendous vote-rigging machine.”
“Zhamanak” dismisses Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s assurances that Moscow is not keen revive the Soviet Union. The paper points to President Vladimir Putin’s desire to set up a Eurasian Union of ex-Soviet republics. “Russia is trying to push forward the Eurasian project through blackmail and threats,” it claims.
(Aghasi Yenokian)
“In essence, Serzh Sarkisian ended his campaign without actually starting it,” claims “Zhoghovurd.” “True, the presidential candidate is touring regions and holding meetings. But he is meeting Republicans, rather than ordinary voters. The logic of the election campaign presupposes meetings with voters, and not privileged individuals. Serzh Sarkisian’s behavior is probably not accidental. The presidential election in Armenia can already be considered finished. Because of the absence of real competition Sarkisian already considers himself an elected president and therefore absolutely does not care about the campaign.”
Aram Sarkisian, the leader of the opposition Hanrapetutyun (Republic) tells “168 Zham” that the Armenian authorities can be toppled “not after but before elections” and that “elections should only formalize that victory.” In an apparent criticism of Levon Ter-Petrosian’s political strategy of the last two yeas, Sarkisian says that public trust in the Armenian opposition has fallen also because it “opted for some shadowy or obvious deals.” The Armenian public is now so apathetic that it would not trust even Jesus Christ, he declares.
“Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” quotes Levon Zurabian, a senior member of Ter-Petrosian’s Armenian National Congress (HAK), as saying in the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) on Wednesday that elections in Armenia have become a “farce” and they cannot lead to government change. He charged that “the ruling regime has created a horrendous vote-rigging machine.”
“Zhamanak” dismisses Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s assurances that Moscow is not keen revive the Soviet Union. The paper points to President Vladimir Putin’s desire to set up a Eurasian Union of ex-Soviet republics. “Russia is trying to push forward the Eurasian project through blackmail and threats,” it claims.
(Aghasi Yenokian)