TOP TEN POLITICAL EVENTS IN ARMENIA AND ARTSAKH FROM ARMENIAN NEWS-NEWSAM
December 27, 2012 | 00:16
YEREVAN. – The Armenian News-NEWS.am presents own version of top ten
political events of this year.
1. Criminalization of denial of the Armenian Genocide in France
The French Senate recognized on Jan. 25 a bill criminalizing denial of
the Armenian Genocide in France, which was perpetrated in the Ottoman
Empire. The Senate’s decision caused a real panic in Turkey, the latter
blackmailed and pressed France. As a result, the Constitutional Court
of France recognized the bill anti-constitutional.
2. Parliamentary elections in Armenia
Armenia’s key political event was the May 6 parliamentary elections,
where the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) headed by the
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan won. It was followed by Prosperous
Armenia Party (PAP), opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC),
Orinats Yerkir and opposition ARF Dashnaktsutyun and Heritage parties,
represented in the parliament.
3. Incident in the Harsnakar restaurant
Armenian military doctor Vahe Avetyan and two of his colleagues
were brutally beaten on June 17 at the Harsnakar restaurant, which
belongs to the RPA MP and head of the Armenian Football Federation
Ruben Hayrapetyan. Avetyan died on July 29, as a result Hayrapetyan
withdrew his MP mandate.
4. Presidential elections in Artsakh
Artsakh held on July 19 presidential elections, where the incumbent
President Bako Sahakyan was re-elected. International observers
of over 80 countries, including the United States, Russia, France,
Germany and other states monitored the elections.
5. The Azeri killer Safarov scandal
At the end of August, Armenian and international community was
shocked by the extradition from Hungary and pardoning in Azerbaijan
of an Azeri killer Ramil Safarov, who had axed an Armenian lieutenant
Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest. Armenia ceased diplomatic relations with
Hungary, while all the international and prestigious organizations
condemned the pardoning and making hero of a killer.
6. International recognition of Artsakh
An Australian New South Wales state recognized on Oct. 25 the right to
self-determination of the Karabakh people, and afterwards information
on supposedly recognition by the U.S. California was reported. A
little later Speaker of the Uruguay Parliament Jorge Orrico visited
on Nov. 13 in Artsakh.
7. Tension on the border
This year was notorious by extreme tension on the Armenian-Azerbaijani
line of the contact. If earlier Azerbaijani Armed Forces shot at the
direction of Artsakh, this time the target was the Armenian border. As
a result of the Azerbaijani diversions, which received Armenia’s
proper respond, 25 Azeri died according to Azerbaijani media outlets,
while Armenian side had 4 losses.
8. Accusations against former Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian
Accusations were brought against Armenian former FM and currently PAP
MP Vartan Oskanian, who was heading the Civilitas Foundation and was
blamed for money laundering.
9. Split of the opposition ANC
Following the parliamentary elections in Armenia, Armenian National
Congress member Republic party left the opposition bloc on May
18. On Dec. 20, the Freedom party leader and former Armenian PM Hrant
Bagratyan declared about quitting membership in the bloc and balloting
for the next president. Afterwards, Conservative party quitted its
membership to the bloc.
10. 2013 presidential election campaign launched in Armenia
The process for the next presidential elections in Armenia, scheduled
for Feb. 18 started in December. Among the candidates to run for
the next president is the frontrunner and the incumbent President
Serzh Sargsyan, opposition Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian,
while PAP, ANC and ARF Dashnaktsutyun will have no nominations.