Ballot Stuffing Caught on Camera

This video has been making its way across the internet for the past couple of days. Watch it carefully.

Thousands Protest Election Results

It seems tens of thousands of people unhappy with the results of the election have decided to take to the streets in protest. It appears that this minority isn't happy with the fact that Serge Sarkisian received the majority of the votes in a landslide election or that Russia and the OSCE have approved of the election and its results. Nope, they demand new elections!

Election officials said a final count showed Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian with nearly 53 percent of the vote — enough to win outright and avoid a runoff. His main opponent, Levon Ter-Petrosian, had 21.5 percent.

Monitors for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said there were concerns about the vote count, but issued a generally positive assessment of the election. And Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country enjoys close ties with Armenia, congratulated Sarkisian on his victory.

"I would like to assure you that no one will be able to stop us from making sure that the rule of law is observed," Ter-Petrosian told cheering supporters.

Enough. Stop wasting your time. Serge had definite advantages going in, the election was relatively fair, and Levon lost. Advice to future candidates: don't make a surprise entry and expect the vast majority to take your side instantly.

You can almost hear the kid in the picture saying, "Mom, why are we out here wasting our time in the cold? I thought Mr. Sarkisian had won?"

Photo by Arthur Papyan

And the Votes Are In

Election day came and went. Conclusions?

The ruling Republican Party of Prime Minister Serzh Sarksyan won almost 33% of the vote, officials said. Prosperous Armenia, a comparatively new political party led by former world arm wrestling champion Gagik Tsarukian, won 14.7%.

European observers said the vote largely met international standards, but that some more work was needed. Opposition groups said Saturday's vote was falsified and have called for mass demonstrations in the capital, Yerevan.

The BBC's Matthew Collin, in Yerevan, said the results were a resounding victory for pro-government forces. A spokesman for the Law-Governed Country Party, Tigran Mkrtchyan, said the results were "grossly falsified".

I don't think anyone expected anything other than this. The Big-2 fixed the election, just as everyone knew they were going to. Did they mess with the ballots? Maybe, maybe not - but they certainly bribed a large number of the population with scholarships, seeds, food, money, and so on.

I think the words "vote" and "Armenia" should be prohibited from being in the same sentence, especially with the results of this election.

Source: BBC News

From Glendale, With Fraud

Don't think that just because I am an Armenian and this is Armenia Blog that I'm only going to talk about positive things as they relate to our people. From the "not so great" department, I give you this:

Eight people connected to a Glendale-based charity were arrested on suspicion of fraud after the Los Angeles Police Department linked them to an international crime ring.

Global Human Services, which posed as an organization that regularly sent humanitarian aid overseas to the Republic of Georgia, Jordan, Armenia and Russia, was actually a front for international car theft and fraud...

In June, an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement search of two of the organization’s shipping containers in Houston uncovered a shipment of women’s shoes and two late-model sport utility vehicles hidden behind false walls in each container...

It’s estimated that the GHS shipped $5 million worth of cars in the past few years, not including the loss to insurance companies through fraudulent claims.

Those in custody are: GHS operators Rita Gervorkyan, 27, and Garegin Narinyants, 32, both of Burbank, who are being held on $500,000 bail. Co-operators Lioudvig Gevorkian, 57, and Gayk Gevorkian, 21, are believed to be out of the country but are also wanted by the LAPD.

Six car owners and lessees who allegedly participated in the scam were arrested last night and early this morning. Each was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail, according to the LAPD.

Stories like these don't make me proud to be Armenian, because these people only serve to create stereotypes for the rest of us. The Armenians that I like to think of are artists, musicians, businessmen, and others of positive influence.

Source: CBS

Armenians Fall Victim to False Advertising, Defective Products

Here's a really interesting piece of investigative journalism about a company, its false advertisements, its defective products, and its unsatisfied customers:

Television commercials for the company Telemarket that air regularly on several Armenian TV channels offer customers various household items that become useless after a single use.

In the commercials, which were filmed in the USA, actors showcase with enthusiasm the “magical” Nicer Dicer for cutting vegetables, the Swivel Sweeper electric sweeper, Klear Active anti-acne face gel, and other items. Prices start from 19,900 [about $55 USD] drams, plus a shipping and handling fee of 590 drams.

"In the TV ad they showed that it's possible to cut vegetables without any effort, everything was very easy and smooth. I tried to cut cabbage and carrots with it but it didn't cut. I immediately called them. They told me that I had to exert some force, but it wouldn't even cut onions. They totally declined my requests to give me their address."

Each buyer is given a 15-day money back guarantee. But, as Telemarket customers found out, returning money is not part of the company's plans. The money-back guarantee is only valid if the product is not damaged. But this is completely impossible, especially because Nicer Dicer becomes damaged after its very first use.

I encourage you to read the full article linked below. It seems Armenia does have certain laws relating to false advertising, but the company that is legally responsible for monetary compensation is not responding to such requests.

Source: Hetq

How Armenian Politicians Buy Votes

Want to know how Armenian politicians influence votes in their favor?

In past elections candidates were accused of buying votes by distributing sugar, flour or money to voters, but this time a much more sophisticated campaign is taking place.

On the grounds that drought had prevented peasants from storing seeds, Tsarukian's party began distributing winter wheat and potatoes in ten regions of Armenia. Bargavach Hayastan also launched a programme of providing free medical services for the residents of these regions.

His other initiatives have included sowing wheat and the setting up of a fund for impoverished students. And all his charitable activities are getting generous television coverage

Tigran Karapetian, chairman of ALM holding company and chairman of the People's Party, has been using ALM television for four years to promote his own charitable initiatives. The slogan "Be good to people at all cost” sounds out from television screens with an image of Karapetian and soulful music.

Karapetian has also been organising trips for provincial residents, mainly pensioners and the poor, in minibuses to visit Lake Sevan and other sights.

Zakarian has also criticised defence minister - and possible future president - Serzh Sarkisian for his involvement in opening a water supply system in the village of Tsakhkahovit last November instead of dealing with his defence portfolio.

The governing Republican Party of Armenia has also been engaged in controversial charitable initiatives, presenting provincial educational centres with computers and laboratory equipment.

It's a long post, but there you have it: craty Armenian criminals doing what they have to do to get or maintain power.

Source: IWPR