WILL REPUBLICANS SUE UK AMBASSADOR?
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28707
15:27 23/01/2013
Yesterday the UK Ambassador Katherine Leach wrote in the UK Embassy
blog, "But after over a decade of elections badly marred by fraud,
perhaps the biggest challenge for the Armenian authorities in this
election is trying to rebuild and win the trust of its people and
partners. Will this happen? I very much hope so," the ambassador wrote.
This statement would be a scandal in a legal state. They would at
least invite the ambassador to the Foreign Ministry and hand her a
note for interfering in internal affairs and insulting the state.
Moreover, they would sue the ambassador because she has actually
accused the Armenian government of usurpation. After all, when a
party comes to government through fraud, it is usurpation.
In the meantime, no sues and no notes followed. Partly because it is
the UK but mostly because the authorities admit the elections are
marred by fraud. They only say that breaches did not determine the
return of the election, which, however, does not justify falsification.
The ambassador has made several straightforward statements to which
the authorities have not responded not to draw the society's attention
to them. For example, the ambassador hinted that three main parties -
the ANC, ARF and PAP - are not running in the election because they
backed the wrong person or are concerned about the future of their
businesses. "If they lack finance, is it because potential wealthy
backers are concerned about what will happen to their businesses if
they back the wrong horse - or because they have not found a way of
communicating their message in a way which would inspire donations
from the general public?"
The ambassador also calls the authorities to focus on three areas: the
voter list, the involvement of public servants, responding vigorously
to complaints.
Does this mean that the West will have a rigid attitude to the
Armenian election and will not recognize them? Does this mean that
Serzh Sargsyan is no longer backed by the West?
In any case, it is clear that during these elections, thanks to the
candidates and international diplomats, fraud will be disputed not
only politically but also legally.
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/comments/view/28707
15:27 23/01/2013
Yesterday the UK Ambassador Katherine Leach wrote in the UK Embassy
blog, "But after over a decade of elections badly marred by fraud,
perhaps the biggest challenge for the Armenian authorities in this
election is trying to rebuild and win the trust of its people and
partners. Will this happen? I very much hope so," the ambassador wrote.
This statement would be a scandal in a legal state. They would at
least invite the ambassador to the Foreign Ministry and hand her a
note for interfering in internal affairs and insulting the state.
Moreover, they would sue the ambassador because she has actually
accused the Armenian government of usurpation. After all, when a
party comes to government through fraud, it is usurpation.
In the meantime, no sues and no notes followed. Partly because it is
the UK but mostly because the authorities admit the elections are
marred by fraud. They only say that breaches did not determine the
return of the election, which, however, does not justify falsification.
The ambassador has made several straightforward statements to which
the authorities have not responded not to draw the society's attention
to them. For example, the ambassador hinted that three main parties -
the ANC, ARF and PAP - are not running in the election because they
backed the wrong person or are concerned about the future of their
businesses. "If they lack finance, is it because potential wealthy
backers are concerned about what will happen to their businesses if
they back the wrong horse - or because they have not found a way of
communicating their message in a way which would inspire donations
from the general public?"
The ambassador also calls the authorities to focus on three areas: the
voter list, the involvement of public servants, responding vigorously
to complaints.
Does this mean that the West will have a rigid attitude to the
Armenian election and will not recognize them? Does this mean that
Serzh Sargsyan is no longer backed by the West?
In any case, it is clear that during these elections, thanks to the
candidates and international diplomats, fraud will be disputed not
only politically but also legally.