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HOVANNISIAN REJECTS ELECTION RESULTS AS SUPPORT MOUNTS FOR MOVEMENT
http://asbarez.com/108482/hovannisian-rejects-election-results-as-support-mounts-for-movement/
Monday, February 25th, 2013
Raffi Hovannisian meets the press Monday after official elections
results are announced
Prosperous Armenia Party, University Students express support for
post-election popular movement.
YEREVAN-Several hours after the official results of Armenia's
presidential elections were announced by the Central Electoral
Commission, opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian, at a press conference
on Monday, announced that he would take the struggle to the courtroom,
hinting at a possibility of challenging the election outcome.
Hovannisian, speaking to Asbarez Editor Ara Khachatourian on Sunday
also said that he will utilize Armenia's constitution to its fullest
extent and vowed to continue the popular movement that has sprung
since Election Day "the will of the Armenian people is recognized."
At the press conference, Hovannisian also made it clear that he
does not expect a quick and swift resolution to the post-election
challenges.
"This is not my struggle anymore, nor the struggle of my 'team,'"
he said. "Let people not think that this is an issue will be resolved
in a day," arguing that creatively and collectively, he will continue
the struggle.
Hovannisian stressed that the CEC and all those who took part in
rigging the election must and will be held accountable. He also said
those who try to impede the movement of the people will also give
answers for their actions. "I have to go to the place I please in
Armenia to say barev (to greet) and thank the people," he said.
The press conference also focused on Hovannisian's meeting with
President Serzh Sarkisian on Thursday, during which the opposition
leader had put forth several suggestions for addressing his assertion
that the elections were rigged.
Hovannisian also rejected a notion that he was offered a high-level
government position in return for his retaliation from continuing
the popular movement, which has become know as BAREVolution.
Hovannisian said he will do his utmost to avoid scenarios that could
lead to bloodshed. "I will not allow a single drop of blood to shed,
he noted, at the same time cautioning the authorities not to confuse
this with lack of resoluteness. "I won't accept the citizen of Armenia
to become a subject of mockery with these official results," he said.
Prosperous Armenia Party Defends Protests The one-time government
coalition member, the Prosperous Armenia Party on Monday issued a
statement defending the post-election popular movement, warning the
government against the use of force to quell protesters.
In its first post-election statement, the party with the second
largest representation in Parliament said the protests reflect "public
distrust" in the electoral process and pervasive dissatisfaction with
unjust government abuse.
"The Prosperous Armenia Party has been and will always be with the
people. The Prosperous Armenia Party believes that it is the absolute
right of every citizen of Armenia to demand respect for their rights,
including the electoral right," said the statement.
The Prosperous Armenia Party did not endorse allegations of voter
fraud, nor did it claim Sarkisian to be the rightful winner of the
elections. The party's leader, businessman Gagik Tsarukian, did not
put forth his candidacy for president and his party did not endorse
any of the seven candidates running in the race.
The Prosperous Armenia Party's statement also called for the government
to exercise restraint toward protesters, warning that "any use
of force against peaceful demonstrators would lead to irreversible
consequences." It also called on organizers and participants "to take
their actions within the framework of the law."
"The Prosperous Armenia Party thinks just like the people do," party
spokesperson spokesman, Tigran Urikhanian, told RFE/RL's Armenian
service (Azatutyun.am) when asked to specify its stance on the
election conduct.
"The people have risen up today because of the impossibility of
having elementary living conditions," said Urikhanian. "People are
expressing discontent and fury with the existing situation. This is
what the Prosperous Armenia Party thinks."
Students protest vote rigging and fraud in Armenia (photolure)
Students Protest 'Vote Rigging' Security was tightened at state-run
universities in Yerevan Monday as more than 100 students boycotted
classes and rallied outside universities to protest presidential
election results.
The students urged other to join the boycott.
"We are calling on you to join this movement," one of their leaders
shouted through a megaphone outside Yerevan State University, the
starting point of the protests.
"This [opposition] movement has no concrete political orientation,
it's everybody's fight," he said. "We all know well who won these
elections. The people won these elections."
Several students claimed that they have been warned by school
administration officials that they risked dismissal in case of
boycotting classes.
>>From Yerevan State University, the crowd marched to other state
institutions whose entrances were blocked by security guards and in
some instances riot police.
Hovannisian briefly joined the students and encouraged their actions.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://asbarez.com/108482/hovannisian-rejects-election-results-as-support-mounts-for-movement/
Monday, February 25th, 2013
Raffi Hovannisian meets the press Monday after official elections
results are announced
Prosperous Armenia Party, University Students express support for
post-election popular movement.
YEREVAN-Several hours after the official results of Armenia's
presidential elections were announced by the Central Electoral
Commission, opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian, at a press conference
on Monday, announced that he would take the struggle to the courtroom,
hinting at a possibility of challenging the election outcome.
Hovannisian, speaking to Asbarez Editor Ara Khachatourian on Sunday
also said that he will utilize Armenia's constitution to its fullest
extent and vowed to continue the popular movement that has sprung
since Election Day "the will of the Armenian people is recognized."
At the press conference, Hovannisian also made it clear that he
does not expect a quick and swift resolution to the post-election
challenges.
"This is not my struggle anymore, nor the struggle of my 'team,'"
he said. "Let people not think that this is an issue will be resolved
in a day," arguing that creatively and collectively, he will continue
the struggle.
Hovannisian stressed that the CEC and all those who took part in
rigging the election must and will be held accountable. He also said
those who try to impede the movement of the people will also give
answers for their actions. "I have to go to the place I please in
Armenia to say barev (to greet) and thank the people," he said.
The press conference also focused on Hovannisian's meeting with
President Serzh Sarkisian on Thursday, during which the opposition
leader had put forth several suggestions for addressing his assertion
that the elections were rigged.
Hovannisian also rejected a notion that he was offered a high-level
government position in return for his retaliation from continuing
the popular movement, which has become know as BAREVolution.
Hovannisian said he will do his utmost to avoid scenarios that could
lead to bloodshed. "I will not allow a single drop of blood to shed,
he noted, at the same time cautioning the authorities not to confuse
this with lack of resoluteness. "I won't accept the citizen of Armenia
to become a subject of mockery with these official results," he said.
Prosperous Armenia Party Defends Protests The one-time government
coalition member, the Prosperous Armenia Party on Monday issued a
statement defending the post-election popular movement, warning the
government against the use of force to quell protesters.
In its first post-election statement, the party with the second
largest representation in Parliament said the protests reflect "public
distrust" in the electoral process and pervasive dissatisfaction with
unjust government abuse.
"The Prosperous Armenia Party has been and will always be with the
people. The Prosperous Armenia Party believes that it is the absolute
right of every citizen of Armenia to demand respect for their rights,
including the electoral right," said the statement.
The Prosperous Armenia Party did not endorse allegations of voter
fraud, nor did it claim Sarkisian to be the rightful winner of the
elections. The party's leader, businessman Gagik Tsarukian, did not
put forth his candidacy for president and his party did not endorse
any of the seven candidates running in the race.
The Prosperous Armenia Party's statement also called for the government
to exercise restraint toward protesters, warning that "any use
of force against peaceful demonstrators would lead to irreversible
consequences." It also called on organizers and participants "to take
their actions within the framework of the law."
"The Prosperous Armenia Party thinks just like the people do," party
spokesperson spokesman, Tigran Urikhanian, told RFE/RL's Armenian
service (Azatutyun.am) when asked to specify its stance on the
election conduct.
"The people have risen up today because of the impossibility of
having elementary living conditions," said Urikhanian. "People are
expressing discontent and fury with the existing situation. This is
what the Prosperous Armenia Party thinks."
Students protest vote rigging and fraud in Armenia (photolure)
Students Protest 'Vote Rigging' Security was tightened at state-run
universities in Yerevan Monday as more than 100 students boycotted
classes and rallied outside universities to protest presidential
election results.
The students urged other to join the boycott.
"We are calling on you to join this movement," one of their leaders
shouted through a megaphone outside Yerevan State University, the
starting point of the protests.
"This [opposition] movement has no concrete political orientation,
it's everybody's fight," he said. "We all know well who won these
elections. The people won these elections."
Several students claimed that they have been warned by school
administration officials that they risked dismissal in case of
boycotting classes.
>>From Yerevan State University, the crowd marched to other state
institutions whose entrances were blocked by security guards and in
some instances riot police.
Hovannisian briefly joined the students and encouraged their actions.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress