Press review, May 7-8, 1999

CEC Rejects Torossyan Appeal

On May 7, the dailies reported on an extraordinary meeting of the Central Electoral Commission on May 6 that rejected an appeal brought by Rouben Torossyan, a candidate in Electoral District 11. The appeal requested that two of his rivals give up their current Parliamentary seats; Khosrov Harutiunyan (Chairman of the current Parliament) and Shavarsh Kocharyan. Torossyan based his demand on Article 111 of the Electoral Code which provides that employees of state and local self-governing bodies of the RA are to quit their official duties when they become candidates.. The Central Electoral Commission rejected the appeal on the bases that Harutiunyan and Kocharyan are not employees of a state body, as required by the Code, but are representatives of the legislative body.

Vano Siradeghyan Released

Vano Siradeghyan, leader of Armenian National Movement Party (HHSh) and candidate on both majoritarian and proportional ballots was released from arrest on May 7. He was arrested on May 3 in the Yerevan airport just after his arrival from Sofia. The Office of the Prosecutor General of Armenia explained that Siradeghyan was released based on a February decision of the Armenian National Assembly that removed his deputy immunity and on the maximum 96 hour detention allowed by law. In addition, HHSh leaders posted bail and gave assurances that all required procedures prescribed by law would be followed. Siradeghyan promised reporters that he would meet with them on Tuesday.

Unity Bloc Leaders Campaign in Syunik

Azg, Aravot and Zhamanak reported about the campaign visits of Unity Bloc leaders to the towns and villages of Syunik Marz on May 6 and 7. Large rallies were held in Goris, Kapan, Agarak, Kadjaran and Meghri where Karen Demirchyan and Vazgen Sargssyan spoke about the need for citizen political participation, state support to industry and agriculture, the necessity for smooth and peaceful transition of the power, and the need for free and fair elections.