Vote 2013: Opposition bloc refuses to take part in presidential race

Vote 2013: Opposition bloc refuses to take part in presidential race

VOTE 2013 | 27.12.12 | 20:53

The opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) on Thursday announced
that it will not take part in the upcoming presidential election as it
considers any participation `meaningless’.

The statement follows a decision by ANC leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan not
to stand for president in the February 18 vote that was made public
earlier this week.

In a statement the opposition bloc said that participation in the
`travesty’ of the election or support for any other candidate would
only promote the `legitimization of the illegal regime.’

The ANC accused the current government of `consistently destroying any
possibility of democratic and competitive elections’ and `perfecting
the vote-rigging machine’ in Armenia in the past five years.

`Despite strong pledges given to the public in Armenia and the
international community the elections to the Yerevan municipality in
2009, the parliamentary elections in 2012 and all elections to local
government bodies held during this period have been rigged,’ charged
the ANC, arguing that any possibility of changing power by means of
elections is excluded in Armenia.