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OUTSIDER: SUKIASYAN IS NOT ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
Vote 2012 | 29.03.12 | 14:33
The Election Commission of Constituency #10 on Wednesday made a
decision not to register renowned businessman Khachatur Sukiasyan's
candidacy for the May 6 Parliamentary elections. The Armenian National
Congress (ANC), which supports Sukiasyan, called this "a powerless
and fraudulent step, which is the expression of the authorities'
fear and revenge."
The commission made its decision based on the notice sent by the
Passport and Visa Department of the Police of Armenia, according to
which Sukiasyan has not permanently resided in Armenia within the
recent five years (he lived abroad for ten months).
Predicting such a decision Sukiasyan's family, which have been
subjected to political pursuits since the Presidential elections in
2008, when Sukiasyan publically supported opposition leader Levon
Ter-Petrosyan, nominated Sukiasyan's brother Saribek Sukiasyan's
candidacy in the same electoral district beforehand.
The commission registered Saribek's candidacy and he will compete with
another well-known businessman, head of Nushikyan Association Garegin
Nushikyan, who is nominated by Republican Party of Armenia (RPA).
Still, Khachatur Sukiasyan's attorney Ara Zohrabyan says that being
absent from a country for ten months does not mean not residing
there permanently.
"Under the Article 23 of the Civil Code of Armenia, 'The place of
residence is the place where a citizen permanently or primarily
lives.' Sukiasyan was absent for only ten months, and it is only
18 percent within five years. We will settle this issue at court
instances, we will even appeal to the European Court [of Human
Rights]," Zohrabyan says.
Even though the opposition political figure was denied, RPA has
nominated a number of candidates who were absent from Armenia for a
long time, too.
Owner of Hrazdan open-air market Ashot Aghababyan, who during
his interviews has not concealed the fact that he was absent from
Armenia due to health problems, is registered as a candidate for
the Parliamentary elections at electoral district #33 in Gyumri,
Shirak province.
Former Deputy Minister of Health Tatul Hakobyan who is a candidate at
electoral district #37 (Syunik province) has lived in Denmark since
November 2010 and he works at the World Health Organization as an
expert, however he had no problems regarding his registration.
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
Vote 2012 | 29.03.12 | 14:33
The Election Commission of Constituency #10 on Wednesday made a
decision not to register renowned businessman Khachatur Sukiasyan's
candidacy for the May 6 Parliamentary elections. The Armenian National
Congress (ANC), which supports Sukiasyan, called this "a powerless
and fraudulent step, which is the expression of the authorities'
fear and revenge."
The commission made its decision based on the notice sent by the
Passport and Visa Department of the Police of Armenia, according to
which Sukiasyan has not permanently resided in Armenia within the
recent five years (he lived abroad for ten months).
Predicting such a decision Sukiasyan's family, which have been
subjected to political pursuits since the Presidential elections in
2008, when Sukiasyan publically supported opposition leader Levon
Ter-Petrosyan, nominated Sukiasyan's brother Saribek Sukiasyan's
candidacy in the same electoral district beforehand.
The commission registered Saribek's candidacy and he will compete with
another well-known businessman, head of Nushikyan Association Garegin
Nushikyan, who is nominated by Republican Party of Armenia (RPA).
Still, Khachatur Sukiasyan's attorney Ara Zohrabyan says that being
absent from a country for ten months does not mean not residing
there permanently.
"Under the Article 23 of the Civil Code of Armenia, 'The place of
residence is the place where a citizen permanently or primarily
lives.' Sukiasyan was absent for only ten months, and it is only
18 percent within five years. We will settle this issue at court
instances, we will even appeal to the European Court [of Human
Rights]," Zohrabyan says.
Even though the opposition political figure was denied, RPA has
nominated a number of candidates who were absent from Armenia for a
long time, too.
Owner of Hrazdan open-air market Ashot Aghababyan, who during
his interviews has not concealed the fact that he was absent from
Armenia due to health problems, is registered as a candidate for
the Parliamentary elections at electoral district #33 in Gyumri,
Shirak province.
Former Deputy Minister of Health Tatul Hakobyan who is a candidate at
electoral district #37 (Syunik province) has lived in Denmark since
November 2010 and he works at the World Health Organization as an
expert, however he had no problems regarding his registration.