Heghine Bisharian, who topped the list of the party’s candidates, said at the same time that the May 31 elections were a major improvement over the disputed elections held in Armenia in the past. “Whereas in the previous elections we spoke about [irregularities in] numerous precincts, we can speak only about a couple of precincts,” she said.
Official vote results showed Orinats Yerkir, which is represented in the central government by four ministers, winning only 5.2 percent of the vote and falling short of the 7 percent legal threshold for being represented in Yerevan’s new municipal assembly. The performance was a far cry from 16.7 percent garnered by its top leader, Artur Baghdasarian, in last year’s presidential election.
According to Bisharian, Orinats Yerkir would have gotten a better result this time around had it been able to achieve vote recounts in many polling stations. She also claimed that the outcome of the polls was decided by widespread vote buying.
“Within the [governing] political coalition there was an agreement that vote bribes will not be distributed,” she told a news conference. “But that agreement was breached.”
Bisharian went on to blast scores of Yerevan residents that she said sold their votes the day before voting. “The people deserve the authority they elect,” she said. “I am simply amazed by our people. I am amazed that they could get paid on a single night, meekly go to the polls and elect a person with whom they are unhappy.”
Pressed by reporters, Bisharian clarified that her allegations are addressed to not only the governing Republican (HHK) and Prosperous Armenia (BHK) parties but the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK). Representatives of all three political groups brushed aside the claims when contacted by RFE/RL.
“Unlike many politicians, I speak with facts, rather than speculations,” said Eduard Sharmazanov, the chief HHK spokesman. “If other citizens, politicians have concrete facts I would urge them to appeal to law-enforcement bodies.”
“That absolutely doesn’t correspond to reality,” said Aram Safarian, a senior BHK member.
“I don’t comment on idiotic statements,” retorted Levon Zurabian, an HAK leader. Like Orinats Yerkir, the opposition alliance, which refuses to recognize the official vote results, has singled out vote buying as the most common irregularity in the Yerevan race.
Official vote results showed Orinats Yerkir, which is represented in the central government by four ministers, winning only 5.2 percent of the vote and falling short of the 7 percent legal threshold for being represented in Yerevan’s new municipal assembly. The performance was a far cry from 16.7 percent garnered by its top leader, Artur Baghdasarian, in last year’s presidential election.
According to Bisharian, Orinats Yerkir would have gotten a better result this time around had it been able to achieve vote recounts in many polling stations. She also claimed that the outcome of the polls was decided by widespread vote buying.
“Within the [governing] political coalition there was an agreement that vote bribes will not be distributed,” she told a news conference. “But that agreement was breached.”
Bisharian went on to blast scores of Yerevan residents that she said sold their votes the day before voting. “The people deserve the authority they elect,” she said. “I am simply amazed by our people. I am amazed that they could get paid on a single night, meekly go to the polls and elect a person with whom they are unhappy.”
Pressed by reporters, Bisharian clarified that her allegations are addressed to not only the governing Republican (HHK) and Prosperous Armenia (BHK) parties but the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK). Representatives of all three political groups brushed aside the claims when contacted by RFE/RL.
“Unlike many politicians, I speak with facts, rather than speculations,” said Eduard Sharmazanov, the chief HHK spokesman. “If other citizens, politicians have concrete facts I would urge them to appeal to law-enforcement bodies.”
“That absolutely doesn’t correspond to reality,” said Aram Safarian, a senior BHK member.
“I don’t comment on idiotic statements,” retorted Levon Zurabian, an HAK leader. Like Orinats Yerkir, the opposition alliance, which refuses to recognize the official vote results, has singled out vote buying as the most common irregularity in the Yerevan race.