Author: Kajoyan Gevork

Carousel voting performed its mission at May 6 parliamentary election in Armenia

arminfo
Tuesday, May 8, 23:13

Carousel voting was fixed at the May 6 parliamentary election, Head of
Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office (HCAV) Arthur Sakunts said
at a press conference on Tuesday. He said that 94 observers of HCAV
monitored the voting at the polling stations in Vanadzor, Ijevan,
Gyumri and Yerevan (in constituency No.7) and fixed a great number of
violations there.

“We fixed disappearing ink stamps in the passports ahead of time, as
well as distribution of bribes. The members of the electoral
commissions were unaware of the legislation and managed the election
process poorly, the privacy of the voting was not observed. Carousel
voting was launched, when the first voter casts an empty envelope into
the ballot box and takes the blank ballot paper with himself, and the
following voter brings that ballot paper, which is already marked.
The voters’ rights to freedom of choice were infringed, some voters
tried to vote twice. Moreover, in Gyumri a lot of members of the
electoral commissions refused to perform their observation mission
after the murder of the fiance of Gyumri mayor’s daughter”, Sakunts
said.

He also stressed that the police did not respond to their statements
on the violations during the elections, though the violations were
proved by the relevant video and audio records. “As a result, we have
come to the conclusion that the citizens’ confidence in the electoral
process has not been restored, as no relevant steps have been taken in
this direction”, he said. “The Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor
Office does not consider these elections to be free and fair”, Sakunts
said.

ARMENIAN RELIGIOUS LEADER PAYS TRIBUTE TO LATE IMAM KHOMEINI

Islamic Republic News Agency

May 7 2012
Iran

Share-Rey, Tehran, May 7, IRNA – Visiting Armenian religious leader
from Sicily Church Jasliq Aram I on Monday paid tribute to the late
Imam Khomeini.

Accompanied by Tehran and Isfahan Armenian Archdiocese leaders he
laid a wreath of flowers on the grave of the founder of the Islamic
Republic.

They also visited different parts of Imam Khomeini’s mausoleum and
got acquaintance with his life, struggles and thoughts .

The Armenian religious leader is scheduled to take part in the Fifth
Conference on Dialogue of Civilizations due to be held in Tehran from
May 14-15.

The Islamic Culture and Relations Organization has invited Jasliq
Aram I to the conference.

Jasliq Aram I is currently serving as Chairman of World Council
of Churches

ACCUSED HOLLYWOOD CON MAN CHARGED WITH GRAND THEFT

CBS Local

May 7 2012

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – An Armenian immigrant who most recently called
Hollywood home is now behind bars accused of conning someone out of
more than a thousand dollars.

David Vyner, 36, was charged with grand theft after he allegedly
convinced someone that he was with the Russian Embassy and could
push the renewal of the person’s Russian passport through for $1,050,
according to the Sun-Sentinel.

Over his life time Vyner has appeared to be many things. Currently
on probation for practicing law with a license, in the past Vyner
was caught carrying a foreign diplomat’s passport. He also had ID
badges from Memorial Regional Hospital which listed him as a doctor
and a clergyman.

Last year Vyner that he received a medical degree in Russia and
also has been to rabbinical school. But his first wife, in a sworn
statement, said that he was never a licensed attorney or doctor
anywhere.

His second wife said in a deposition that he convinced her he was
a rabbi

At the time of his arrest, Vyner was on probation while awaiting a
federal trial in Washington D.C. in an identity theft case. He has a
pending immigration case as well. There is also an active warrant out
for his arrest in Canada where is facing nearly two dozen tax charges.

Vyner is being held without bond.

5 PARTIES, OPPOSITION ALLIANCE MAKE IT TO ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT

The Voice of Russia
May 7 2012

Five political parties and an opposition alliance have made it to
the Armenian Parliament.

Now that 90% of the votes have been counted, it is safe to claim that
the ruling Republican Party is in the lead with 44% of the votes to
its credit.

It is followed by another ruling coalition party, Prosperous Armenia,
with 30.3% of the vote to its credit.

Another three parties of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation,
namely Dashnaktsutyun, Heritage and Orinats Yerkir, have qualified
for parliament by polling more than 5% of the vote.

The opposition alliance, the Armenian National Congress, went to
great pains to make it to parliament by polling 7% of the vote.

According to the Central Elections Commission, the turnout at Sunday’s
elections exceeded 62%.

The final returns are due to be made public in a week’s time.

TURKISH GUL WARNS FRENCH HOLLANDE

news.am
May 07, 2012 | 20:33

Turkish President Abdullah Gul sent a congratulation letter to newly
elected French President Francois Hollande. In his letter Gul expressed
hope that Hollande’s election will contribute to the development
of Turkish-French relations. Talking about the law criminalizing
the denial of the Armenian Genocide Gul warned that the new French
Government should be more careful about sensitive issues for Turkey.

To remind, Francois Hollande has promised that after being elected he
will make steps towards introducing the law on criminalizing the denial
of the Armenian Genocide to the French Senate again. He insisted that
in order to enter the EU Turkey must recognize the Armenian Genocide.

ARTSAKH PRESIDENT ATTENDS EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO SHOUSHI LIBERATION ANNIVERSARY

Panorama.am
07/05/2012

Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan attended an exhibition
dedicated to Victory Day, 20th anniversary of the establishment of
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army and the liberation of Shoushi
in Park Hotel Artsakh in Stepanakert.

The President noted the importance of creating works dedicated to
May 9 triple holiday because it forms a significant part of patriotic
upbringing, Artsakh President’s press office reported.

POLITICIAN: PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY WILL HARDLY STEP INTO THE SAME RIVER TWICE AND JOIN THE RULING COALITION

arminfo
Monday, May 7, 18:10

According to the political logic, the parliamentary election in
Armenia were falsified, the leader of the opposition “New Times”
party, Aram Karapetyan, told Arminfo correspondent.

He said that the paradox and absurdness of the situation is that over
the last months everybody, including the authorities, were saying about
the catastrophic outflow of population, about 30% of poverty in the
country, and as a result, about the threat to the national security
of Armenia. But this did not hamper the coalition to gather 80% of
votes. “This means that our people with their 7000 year old history
suffer either of idiotism or masochism, if after all this they go on
supporting the present authorities. But I am sure that the Armenians
are smart and gifted people. For this reason, they could not make such
a senseless choice. It means that the election were fully falsified
and the votes were bought”, – Karapetyan said.

He thinks that at present formation of the new coalition is hardly
possible, as the ruling Republican Party of Armenia together with its
satellite – Orinats Yerkir have already formed an absolute majority,
and there is no need to set up a new political body.

In this context, Karapetyan thinks that Prosperous Armenia Party
is in a rather hard situation, as it considered itself like a real
alternative to the ruling party. “The point is that being one of the
brightest representatives of local oligarchy the leader of the PAP
Gagik Tsarukyan was trying to break monopoly of the power party. Now
he should either continue playing in opposition, or will confess the
dominating role of the RPA, enter the coalition and become the second
“bagdasaryan”. Knowing Tsarukyan’s nature, I am sure that he will
not go Bagdasaryan’s way. It means that Tsarukyan will conduct more
or less opposition policy”, – Karapetyan said. As for the Armenian
National Congress, Karapetyan added that perhaps it will worsen the
situation and harden its position.

124 YEREVAN BALLOON EXPLOSION SUFFERERS RECEIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANCE

news.am
May 07, 2012 | 17:17

YEREVAN. – Necessary psychological help is provided to those
citizens-who suffered as a result of the explosion at Armenian capital
Yerevan’s Republic Square on May 4-who needed this assistance. And
the number of such people was 124 as of Monday.

The assistance was rendered by the joint efforts of the Health Ministry
and the Armenian Psychiatric Association.

Even though the costs for this psychological help are not covered by
state, it is provided to the people free of charge.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, a tragedy occurred during
the Republican Party of Armenia’s rally and concert held at capital
Yerevan’s Republic Square on May 4. Hundreds of balloons filled
with gas exploded and started to burn. Subsequently, the balloons’
melted rubber fell on the event participants. Those near the stage
were affected the most, and a total of 154 people were injured

And in an interview with RIA Novosti News Agency of Russia, Ministry
of Emergency Situations’ Rescue Service Deputy Chief Nikolay Grigoryan
had informed that the balloons were filed with helium gas and the
fire could have been caused by a burning cigarette.

0.1% HAPPINESS

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 17:47:21 – 07/05/2012

It is good that the Armenian National Congress was elected to
parliament. Most members of the Congress are happy with this result,
especially those who will pass to parliament. It seems good for the
kleptocracy which, nevertheless, decided to allow the Congress to
enter the parliament. It will thus avoid a post-election bugbear and
make its foothold firm.

The Congress will certainly announce that the election was rigged, and
the government bullied, and people are not good, they sell their votes
easily, and so on. In other words, all the attributes of the genre are
in place, especially when you play according to the rules of the game.

The Congress was given 7.1%, only 0.1% more than the threshold.

Earlier the government kept the Congress on the verge of 7% until it
received certain guarantees.

The system will need the Congress in the new parliament. Starting
from lobbying draft laws adopted for its own interests to foreign
political issues. Considering the style of the Congress, the new
parliament will open up new opportunities and prospects for it.

However, the Armenian government would not be government if it did
not insert an intrigue. The Congress appears in parliament “thanks” to
the Rule of Law. The appendix of the Republican Party would not appear
in parliament if the issue of having the Congress in parliament were
not pending. Perhaps the PA did not want to take 50%. It would be too
much. And if the Congress plus the ARF are allowed to parliament, the
Rule of Law should be allowed as well not to go beyond the limit. So
the Rule of Law was pushed in to tease the Congress, perhaps in order
to shift their distant dispute of years to the parliament. It will
be worth watching!

ELECTIONS DID NOT RECORD ARMENIAN PEOPLE’S WILL – ARFD

news.am
May 08, 2012 | 14:03

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s National Assembly elections on May 6 did not
register the people’s will and the real ratio among the political
forces, notes the statement released by the opposition ARF
Dashnaktsutyun Party Supreme Body.

“Sadly, it became clear that the widespread election violations were
programmed and they took place outside [election] precincts. It is
an indisputable fact that election bribe had a decisive impact on
the outcome of the elections.

This reality proves that the absolute majority of the Armenian body
politic did not make a free and a conscious choice.

This also means that the political forces, including the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun, are still unable to instill among our society the
awareness of a free citizen and of a maker of a dignified choice.

The ARF Dashnaktsutyun defines this retreat of its-in terms of election
results-as the beginning of a new activity phase, as a continuation
of the universal struggle until a complete change in power,” the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun Party’s statement specifically reads.

To note, Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission has issued the
preliminary results of the May 6 parliamentary elections. Five parties
and one political bloc will be represented in the 131-seat National
Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia: Republican Party of Armenia – 44.05%
(663,066 votes), Prosperous Armenia Party – 30.20% (454,684 votes),
Armenian National Congress – 7.10% (106,910 votes), Heritage Party –
5.79% (87,095 votes), ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party – 5.73% (86, 296 votes),
and Orinats Yerkir Party – 5.49% (82,690 votes).