Babayan Withdraws from Goris Race
RFE/RL reports that the former military commander of Nagorno Karabakh, Samuel Babayan, has withdrawn his candidacy from the Goris constituency where he was set to face off with Alexander Sarkisyan, brother of the Defense Minister, Serzh Sarkisyan, in a showdown that many anticipated would be fiercely contested.
Babayan and businessman Aleksandr Sarkisian have been the main candidates in the constituency encompassing the town of Goris and the surrounding area, setting the stage for one of the most exciting individual contests in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Sarkisian is strongly backed by the governing Republican Party (HHK), while Babayan’s Dashink (Alliance) party claims to be in opposition to the Armenian government.
In a written statement issued on Tuesday, Dashink said the once powerful general will withdraw his candidacy and will contest the May 12 elections only on the nationwide party list basis. It also endorsed another opposition candidate running for parliament from the Goris district. The candidate represents the opposition Zharangutyun party led by former Foreign Minister Raffi Hovannisian.
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