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MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER RE-ELECTED MAYOR OF SMALL ARMENIAN TOWN
The Associated Press
10/10/05 14:00 EDT
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) - The mayor of a small Armenian town who is
being held in custody on murder charges has been re-elected to his
post, election officials said Monday.
Armen Keshishian, the mayor of Nor-Achin - about 10 kilometers (6
miles) east of the capital, Yerevan - has been charged with the Sept.
24 killing of Ashot Mkhitarian, the head of a local electric utility.
In the Sunday election, Keshishian won 2,160 votes, compared to 1,840
votes for his opponent, Armenia's Central Election Committee said.
According to Armenian law, Keshishian will govern his town from
behind bars pending the end of the investigation and the trial. If
he is convicted, he will lose his post and a new election will be held.
Keshishian possessed a pistol, which had been presented to him by Prime
Minister Andranik Markarian. Markarian's spokeswoman Mary Arutunian
confirmed the investigators' claim that Mkhitarian was killed with
that gun.
Since becoming prime minister in 2000, Markarian has presented 589
people with guns, which police officials say have been used in three
murders and a number of attempted murders.
Weapons are considered a treasured gift in the Caucasus. Although
their sale is forbidden in Armenia, the president and prime minister
are empowered to present people with weapons. Arutunian said law
enforcement bodies were now checking a number of people whom Markarian
plans to present with guns, to make sure they would not use them for
criminal purposes.
The Associated Press
10/10/05 14:00 EDT
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) - The mayor of a small Armenian town who is
being held in custody on murder charges has been re-elected to his
post, election officials said Monday.
Armen Keshishian, the mayor of Nor-Achin - about 10 kilometers (6
miles) east of the capital, Yerevan - has been charged with the Sept.
24 killing of Ashot Mkhitarian, the head of a local electric utility.
In the Sunday election, Keshishian won 2,160 votes, compared to 1,840
votes for his opponent, Armenia's Central Election Committee said.
According to Armenian law, Keshishian will govern his town from
behind bars pending the end of the investigation and the trial. If
he is convicted, he will lose his post and a new election will be held.
Keshishian possessed a pistol, which had been presented to him by Prime
Minister Andranik Markarian. Markarian's spokeswoman Mary Arutunian
confirmed the investigators' claim that Mkhitarian was killed with
that gun.
Since becoming prime minister in 2000, Markarian has presented 589
people with guns, which police officials say have been used in three
murders and a number of attempted murders.
Weapons are considered a treasured gift in the Caucasus. Although
their sale is forbidden in Armenia, the president and prime minister
are empowered to present people with weapons. Arutunian said law
enforcement bodies were now checking a number of people whom Markarian
plans to present with guns, to make sure they would not use them for
criminal purposes.