REGION: SARGSYAN SECURES SECOND TERM IN ARMENIA

The Prague Post, Czech Rep
February 20, 2013

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan was re-elected Feb. 18 to serve his
second five-year term in the post, The New York Times reported. The
preliminary results were released Feb. 19 by the Central Election
Commission. Sargsyan received approximately 59 percent of the votes,
followed by former Foreign Affairs Minister Raffi Hovanessian with
about 37 percent. Local police have received at least 70 reports of
possible frauds and voting allegations; however, the results eliminate
the possibility of a second round of elections. Sargsyan’s first term
is notable for modest economic improvements and a continuing struggle
with Turkey and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh territory.