National Unity Party Leader



Born in 1949, Geghamian, a onetime mayor of Yerevan, worked for years as an official in both the Komsomol and Communist Party, where he worked as an aide to People's Party of Armenia leader Stepan Demirchian's father, longtime Soviet-era Armenia boss Karen Demirchian. Geghamian has served in parliament since 1995.

A presidential candidate in 2003, 57-year-old Artashes Geghamian, observers say, lost his chance for real political prominence by failing to cooperate with Stepan Demirchian, leader of the People's Party of Armenia and a fellow rival for election as president. Others differ. The National Unity Party is among the race's crowd pleasers, thanks in large part to Geghamian's abilities as a public speaker.



Pro-Government:
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian
Gagik Tsarukian
Vahan Hovhannisian

Opposition:
Artur Baghdasarian
Stepan Demirchian
Aram Sarkisian
Raffi Hovannisian



Armenian Opposition: TV Campaign Ad Prices a Political Handicap
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav021407a.shtml

Armenian Opposition Divided Ahead of Election
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav030807b.shtml

Armenian Opposition Seeks to Regroup After Constitutional Referendum Setback (2005)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav121505.shtml

Armenia's Draft Constitution Divides Opposition
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav080305a.shtml

Armenia's Opposition Leaders Seek US Support (2005)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav033005.shtml

Armenian Opposition Offers Government Deal on Constitutional Reform (2005)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/civilsociety/articles/eav012705.shtml

Armenian Opposition Vows More Protests Despite Government Crackdown (2004)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav041404.shtml

Government Forcibly Breaks Up Opposition Protest (2004)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/civilsociety/articles/eav041304.shtml

Armenia Braces for Political Upheaval (2004)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav040104a.shtml

Armenian Authorities Carry Out Preemptive Roundup of Opposition Activists (2004)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/rights/articles/eav040604.shtml

Armenian Opposition Mounts Fresh Attack Against President (2004)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav020604.shtml

Armenia Poll Sparks Domestic Outcry, Western Criticism (2003)
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/rights/eav030703_pr.shtml