INCUMBENT PRESIDENT FAVOURED TO RETAIN POWER IN ARMENIA ELECTION
Europe Online Magazine
Feb 18 2013
By our dpa-correspondent and Europe Online
Yerevan (dpa) – Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan was expected to
retain power as voting drew to a close Monday in the former Soviet
republic amid concerns of vote-buying, but with no reports of violence.
Pro-Russian Sargsyan, 58, was leading the field of seven candidates.
He had called for a “fair and transparent vote”.
Election officials were investigating reports of bribes to influence
some votes, as well as allegations of ballot stuffing.
About 2.5 million people of the country’s 3.3-million population were
eligible to vote. Polls close at 8 pm (1600 GMT), with first results
expected soon after. dpa mau dem wo ncs ar Authors: Ulf Mauder,
Wolfgang Jung, Awet Demurjan