Comments on: Sksel a — It’s Started http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/04/08/sksel-a/ Journalism and Photography from Armenia and the Surrounding Region Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:44:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Onnik http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/04/08/sksel-a/#comment-3603 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:05:51 +0100 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/04/08/sksel-a/#comment-3603 <blockquote>Electoral campaign launched in Armenia 09.04.2007 13:16 GMT+04:00 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ The electoral campaign launched in Armenian from April 8 for political parties, which run for parliamentarian mandates. The electoral campaign will last till May 10. Summing up the results of registration, 1447 candidates are running for 131 seats in the parliament. Thus, 134 candidates on majority system run for 41 mandates, and on proportional system 24 parties and one block, which totally have 1313 candidates, struggle for 90 seats. The following parties will participate in electoral campaign: National Democratic Party, “National Consent” party, “National Unity” party, “Prosperous Armenia”, “Dashink”, “Heritage”, “Democratic Way”, parties, Democratic Party of Armenia, Armenian Youth Party, People’s Party of Armenia, Communist Party of Armenia, Republican Party of Armenia, Marxist Party of Armenia, Armenian Revolutionary Federation -“ Dashnaktsutyun”, Pan-Armenian Movement party, People’s Party, “Republic” party, United Labor Party, United Liberal-National Party, “New Times” party, Hnchakyan Social Democratic Party, “National-Christian Rebirth” party as well as “Impeachment” block. A number of political parties have declared they are going to begin their campaign already from April 9, IA Regnum reports.</blockquote>

Electoral campaign launched in Armenia
09.04.2007 13:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The electoral campaign launched in Armenian from April 8 for political parties, which run for parliamentarian mandates. The electoral campaign will last till May 10. Summing up the results of registration, 1447 candidates are running for 131 seats in the parliament. Thus, 134 candidates on majority system run for 41 mandates, and on proportional system 24 parties and one block, which totally have 1313 candidates, struggle for 90 seats. The following parties will participate in electoral campaign: National Democratic Party, “National Consent” party, “National Unity” party, “Prosperous Armenia”, “Dashink”, “Heritage”, “Democratic Way”, parties, Democratic Party of Armenia, Armenian Youth Party, People’s Party of Armenia, Communist Party of Armenia, Republican Party of Armenia, Marxist Party of Armenia, Armenian Revolutionary Federation -“ Dashnaktsutyun”, Pan-Armenian Movement party, People’s Party, “Republic” party, United Labor Party, United Liberal-National Party, “New Times” party, Hnchakyan Social Democratic Party, “National-Christian Rebirth” party as well as “Impeachment” block. A number of political parties have declared they are going to begin their campaign already from April 9, IA Regnum reports.

]]> by: Artashes http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/04/08/sksel-a/#comment-3602 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 09:20:24 +0100 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/04/08/sksel-a/#comment-3602 This so called "political" struggle between HHK and BHK is itself a major embarrassment for any self-respecting Armenian. Two so called parties that don't have anything "political" in a conventional meaning of the word but just want to become THE "party of power" to get MORE, compared with the other, lucrative government positions to milk in a criminal fashion. This can elicit only nausea. This and the womanizer foul-mouthed businessman who was "elected" through arm twisting and intimidation in 1999 into the position of Catholicos... This so called “political” struggle between HHK and BHK is itself a major embarrassment for any self-respecting Armenian. Two so called parties that don’t have anything “political” in a conventional meaning of the word but just want to become THE “party of power” to get MORE, compared with the other, lucrative government positions to milk in a criminal fashion. This can elicit only nausea.

This and the womanizer foul-mouthed businessman who was “elected” through arm twisting and intimidation in 1999 into the position of Catholicos…

]]> by: Onnik http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/04/08/sksel-a/#comment-3599 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 23:05:09 +0100 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/04/08/sksel-a/#comment-3599 Simon over at Blogian also <a href="http://blogian.hayastan.com/2007/04/08/vote-2007/" rel="nofollow">weighs in with his take</a> on the news as reported by E-channel that it looks as though the Catholicos will "bless" the start of the official BHK campaign. <blockquote>The unholy campaign of parliamentarian elections has started on holy Easter in Armenia, writes OneWorld.am. It is said that the holy father of all Armenians - the catholicos - will be “blessing” one of the unholy political parties headed by an infamous oligarch. So what happened to “Give unto Ceasar what is Ceasar’s, give unto God what is God’s”? Oh, I guess the Armenian pope can use the 1,706-year-old license of being the head of the first Christian nation and lose the line - if there has been any in the last five years - of mafia and church. </blockquote> Simon over at Blogian also weighs in with his take on the news as reported by E-channel that it looks as though the Catholicos will “bless” the start of the official BHK campaign.

The unholy campaign of parliamentarian elections has started on holy Easter in Armenia, writes OneWorld.am. It is said that the holy father of all Armenians - the catholicos - will be “blessing” one of the unholy political parties headed by an infamous oligarch.

So what happened to “Give unto Ceasar what is Ceasar’s, give unto God what is God’s”? Oh, I guess the Armenian pope can use the 1,706-year-old license of being the head of the first Christian nation and lose the line - if there has been any in the last five years - of mafia and church.

]]> by: Onnik http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/04/08/sksel-a/#comment-3598 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 22:48:14 +0100 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/04/08/sksel-a/#comment-3598 Talking of election ads, Zarchka at Life Around Me has <a href="http://lifearoundme.wordpress.com/2007/04/08/city-in-posters/#more-115" rel="nofollow">made a post</a> on the same subject: <blockquote>And though early in the morning I got up from an sms wishing me happy Easter, the first thing I striking me soon after it when I looked through the window was Dashnaktsutyun Party’s poster stuck on the opposite wall of my building. “Wow, Sunday, early in the morning, literary first hours of the official period and they have already managed to go about the blocks with posters or someone in our block is apparently Dashnak” was my first thought. [...] today was the long expected day for the parties and while only Dashnaktsutyun started it energetically, it is supposed that the others will join it after the holiday. Although I may assume that some people do not like this. By the time I returned home I noticed that already an attempt was made to tear the posters stuck at my building, and evidently they failed in it just because the height of the poster and the strong fixation on the wall. Obviously someone didn’t like either Dashnaktsutyun itself or the fact that those posters are being stuck everywhere and on their buildings. And I entirely agree with the latter, as far as there should be certain regulations set by the Local Administrative Body as to where the posters are allowed to be attached, and I may bet it can’t be on every step.</blockquote> Talking of election ads, Zarchka at Life Around Me has made a post on the same subject:

And though early in the morning I got up from an sms wishing me happy Easter, the first thing I striking me soon after it when I looked through the window was Dashnaktsutyun Party’s poster stuck on the opposite wall of my building. “Wow, Sunday, early in the morning, literary first hours of the official period and they have already managed to go about the blocks with posters or someone in our block is apparently Dashnak” was my first thought.

[…]

today was the long expected day for the parties and while only Dashnaktsutyun started it energetically, it is supposed that the others will join it after the holiday. Although I may assume that some people do not like this. By the time I returned home I noticed that already an attempt was made to tear the posters stuck at my building, and evidently they failed in it just because the height of the poster and the strong fixation on the wall. Obviously someone didn’t like either Dashnaktsutyun itself or the fact that those posters are being stuck everywhere and on their buildings. And I entirely agree with the latter, as far as there should be certain regulations set by the Local Administrative Body as to where the posters are allowed to be attached, and I may bet it can’t be on every step.

]]> by: Observer http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/04/08/sksel-a/#comment-3597 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 22:38:37 +0100 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/04/08/sksel-a/#comment-3597 ...my biggest worry about Tsarukyan is the rumor about his mania to be called "The King of Armenians"!!! …my biggest worry about Tsarukyan is the rumor about his mania to be called “The King of Armenians”!!!

]]> by: Observer http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/04/08/sksel-a/#comment-3596 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 22:34:45 +0100 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/04/08/sksel-a/#comment-3596 Strangely this blessing affairs reminds me of the Mayor of Gyumri, Vardan Ghukasyan, who got elected the first time as Mayor of Gyumri mostly on the portfolio of being highly religious and getting the blessing from the Ajapahyan, the head of Armenian Apostolic church in Shirak region. I mean - the guy literally prayed throughout all his pre-election campaign on TV!!! Strangely this blessing affairs reminds me of the Mayor of Gyumri, Vardan Ghukasyan, who got elected the first time as Mayor of Gyumri mostly on the portfolio of being highly religious and getting the blessing from the Ajapahyan, the head of Armenian Apostolic church in Shirak region. I mean - the guy literally prayed throughout all his pre-election campaign on TV!!!

]]> by: Onnik http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/04/08/sksel-a/#comment-3595 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 22:18:13 +0100 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/04/08/sksel-a/#comment-3595 Hovik, serious question for you. If tensions between the two parties are real and actually escalate, which party would you support over the other? Already we're seeing some problems emerge and it remains to be seen if this competition can be kept under control and non-violent. Hovik, serious question for you. If tensions between the two parties are real and actually escalate, which party would you support over the other? Already we’re seeing some problems emerge and it remains to be seen if this competition can be kept under control and non-violent.

]]> by: Onnik http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/04/08/sksel-a/#comment-3593 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:28:00 +0100 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/04/08/sksel-a/#comment-3593 Hovik, you mean the HHK/BHK rivalry and occasional clashes? From <a href="http://www.armenialiberty.org/press/press/en/2007/04/AF07C371-85EC-4CF8-A015-D8EF93BDC9F3.ASP" rel="nofollow">RFE/RL's Press Review</a>: <blockquote>“Haykakan Zhamanak” reports on “yet another clash” between supporters of the Republican and Prosperous Armenia parties. The paper says a group of men in the Vayots Dzor region led by the son of a Prosperous Armenia election candidate kidnapped and beat up a local supporter of the HHK. It says Prosperous Armenia refused to comment on the incident. </blockquote> The <a href="http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2007/03/09C94AAA-FC0A-4677-984E-31AED4C6AA6E.asp" rel="nofollow">clash in Erebuni</a>: <blockquote>Armenian newspapers reported over the weekend that the incident occurred in the city’s southern Erebuni district on Thursday and involved the local leaders of the governing Republican Party (HHK) and the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) of businessman Gagik Tsarukian. Citing unnamed government sources, they said the district’s Republican prefect, Mher Sedrakian, and a group of his loyalists attacked and beat up the head of the local BHK chapter, Harutiun Karapoghosian, after he refused to stop his party’s aggressive campaigning in the blue-collar area</blockquote> About the <a href="http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2007/04/3FC3CF3B-9D2A-4A00-99DF-3A0F4F1972D3.asp" rel="nofollow">BHK allegations of HHK vote-rigging</a>: <blockquote>A candidate of Gagik Tsarukian’s Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) on Tuesday unexpectedly withdrew his lawsuit against the pro-government mayor of the southern town of Armavir who controversially defeated him in a recent local election. The candidate, Arayik Aghababian, asked a local court to annul the official results of the March 25 vote, accusing the incumbent Mayor Ruben Khlghatian of resorting to serious fraud. Aghababian asked the presiding judge to call a halt to the two-day proceedings just as appeared to be winning the case. [...] The HHK and the BHK are seen as the top contenders of Armenia’s parliamentary elections scheduled for May 12. The Armavir vote highlighted their uneasy relationship which some observers say could develop into a serious confrontation in the coming weeks.</blockquote> Hovik, you mean the HHK/BHK rivalry and occasional clashes?

From RFE/RL’s Press Review:

“Haykakan Zhamanak” reports on “yet another clash” between supporters of the Republican and Prosperous Armenia parties. The paper says a group of men in the Vayots Dzor region led by the son of a Prosperous Armenia election candidate kidnapped and beat up a local supporter of the HHK. It says Prosperous Armenia refused to comment on the incident.

The clash in Erebuni:

Armenian newspapers reported over the weekend that the incident occurred in the city’s southern Erebuni district on Thursday and involved the local leaders of the governing Republican Party (HHK) and the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) of businessman Gagik Tsarukian. Citing unnamed government sources, they said the district’s Republican prefect, Mher Sedrakian, and a group of his loyalists attacked and beat up the head of the local BHK chapter, Harutiun Karapoghosian, after he refused to stop his party’s aggressive campaigning in the blue-collar area

About the BHK allegations of HHK vote-rigging:

A candidate of Gagik Tsarukian’s Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) on Tuesday unexpectedly withdrew his lawsuit against the pro-government mayor of the southern town of Armavir who controversially defeated him in a recent local election.

The candidate, Arayik Aghababian, asked a local court to annul the official results of the March 25 vote, accusing the incumbent Mayor Ruben Khlghatian of resorting to serious fraud. Aghababian asked the presiding judge to call a halt to the two-day proceedings just as appeared to be winning the case.

[…]

The HHK and the BHK are seen as the top contenders of Armenia’s parliamentary elections scheduled for May 12. The Armavir vote highlighted their uneasy relationship which some observers say could develop into a serious confrontation in the coming weeks.

]]>