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

Surprise of the Day: Russia Supports the Republican Party

It's no surprise, really.

Prosperous Armenia is led by Gagik Tsarukyan, the richest person in Armenia and chairman of the national Olympic Committee. Analysts consider it a creation of the authorities as a backup incase of a setback to the Republican Party.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was in Armenia last week and expressed the Russian government's support for Sarkasyan. Russia traditionally plays an important role in the internal affairs of Armenia. Several other Russian officials have voiced support for Sarkasyan since then, including Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and head of the Audit Chamber Sergey Stepashin.

Of course, Russia is one of the least democratic countries around, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that they are favoring one party over another. So what happens when both the top choices are evil and undesirable, yet the most powerful and influential?

Source: Kommersant

Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan Dies

In case you didn't hear this elsewhere:

Armenian Prime Minister, Chairman of the Republican Party Andranik Margaryan died from heart attack at home. 55-year old PM suffered from heart-disease and repeatedly received treatment for problems with cardiovascular system.

What does this mean for Armenia?

Source: Arka

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