Tweet
ARMENIAN ENTREPRENEUR BARRED FROM STANDING IN MAY'S ELECTION
Carina O'Reilly
Global Insight
April 3, 2012
The Central Election Commission of Armenia has debarred entrepreneur
Khachatur Sukiasian from contesting the 6 May election to the National
Assembly, it was reported yesterday (2 April). The CEC disqualified
him from standing on the list of the opposition Armenian National
Congress (ANC) on the grounds that he had allegedly failed to meet the
five-year permanent residency qualification. He had earlier also been
banned by a lower election commission from standing in his Yerevan
constituency on the same grounds. CEC chairman Tigran Mukuchian said
that Sukiasian had failed to present a police statement certifying
that he had been resident in Armenia for five years. Sukiasian has in
the past offered financial support to opponents of Armenian president
Serzh Sargsyan. The police had refused to issue such a certificate
on the grounds that he was out of the country during 2008-2009.
Sukasian's lawyers say that the ten-month absence makes up less
than one-fifth of the minimum residency period and that the decision
was politically motivated. Police responded that any period of more
than six months outside the country counted as an interruption in
permanent residence status. Sukasian was in hiding for months after
clashes followed the 2008 elections, before handing himself in to
the police in late 2009. He was then granted permission to leave the
country for medical treatment abroad. Sukasian is expected to appeal.
Significance:The CEC did register eight political parties and
one bloc for the election, underlining that Armenia has a fairly
active opposition scene by regional terms. However, there remain
regular accusations that elections are rigged and the government is
intolerant of any opposition. The exclusion of Sukasian will be seen
by the opposition as an attempt to stifle democracy, and any blatant
attempts to manage the outcome of the election could spark further
opposition protest.
From: Baghdasarian
Carina O'Reilly
Global Insight
April 3, 2012
The Central Election Commission of Armenia has debarred entrepreneur
Khachatur Sukiasian from contesting the 6 May election to the National
Assembly, it was reported yesterday (2 April). The CEC disqualified
him from standing on the list of the opposition Armenian National
Congress (ANC) on the grounds that he had allegedly failed to meet the
five-year permanent residency qualification. He had earlier also been
banned by a lower election commission from standing in his Yerevan
constituency on the same grounds. CEC chairman Tigran Mukuchian said
that Sukiasian had failed to present a police statement certifying
that he had been resident in Armenia for five years. Sukiasian has in
the past offered financial support to opponents of Armenian president
Serzh Sargsyan. The police had refused to issue such a certificate
on the grounds that he was out of the country during 2008-2009.
Sukasian's lawyers say that the ten-month absence makes up less
than one-fifth of the minimum residency period and that the decision
was politically motivated. Police responded that any period of more
than six months outside the country counted as an interruption in
permanent residence status. Sukasian was in hiding for months after
clashes followed the 2008 elections, before handing himself in to
the police in late 2009. He was then granted permission to leave the
country for medical treatment abroad. Sukasian is expected to appeal.
Significance:The CEC did register eight political parties and
one bloc for the election, underlining that Armenia has a fairly
active opposition scene by regional terms. However, there remain
regular accusations that elections are rigged and the government is
intolerant of any opposition. The exclusion of Sukasian will be seen
by the opposition as an attempt to stifle democracy, and any blatant
attempts to manage the outcome of the election could spark further
opposition protest.
From: Baghdasarian