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ARMENIA DAILY DIGEST
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From: Ina Iankulova (iiankulova@sorosny.org)
Date: Thu Feb 20 2003 - 11:25:22 EST
OPPOSITION PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ALLEGE MASSIVE VIOLATIONS
The four main challengers to President Kocharian -- Demirchian, Geghamian, Center for Strategic Initiatives head Aram Karapetian, and National Democratic Union Chairman Vazgen Manukian -- released a joint statement at 5 p.m. Yerevan time on 19 February claiming that the voting was marred by "massive irregularities and violence" that called its legitimacy into question, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reported. "I have never seen such a disgraceful election in Armenia before," commented Demirchian's campaign manager, Grigol Harutunian, who claimed that Demirchian is the clear winner. Several proxies for opposition candidates reported witnessing ballot-box stuffing; one RFE/RL correspondent reported seeing a thick wad of folded ballot papers in a ballot box in the northern Yerevan district of Arabkir. A cameraman from the private Shant television station who filmed those ballots had his film confiscated by unknown individuals. On 20 February, thousands of Demirchian's supporters congregated outside the CEC building
in Yerevan to protest the alleged violations, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reported. LF
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