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Russia & CIS General Newswire
December 25, 2007 Tuesday 6:37 PM MSK
Armenia's ex-president claims harassment of his supporters
YEREVAN Dec 25
Armenian presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian has said that law
enforcement bodies are exerting pressure on his supporters.
For nearly two months his supporters across the country have been
subjected to psychological pressure, persecuted and threatened by
police and security officers whose aim is to make them renounce their
support for Ter-Petrosian, the presidential candidate said in his
statement released on Tuesday.
"Apart from being a gross violation of the Election Code, they also
contain an element of an obvious violation of the criminal laws," the
document said.
"All such actions registered until now will sooner or later become an
object of a special inquiry and all who were in charge will face
justice. Not a single police or security officer has the right to
invite, whether orally or by phone, citizens to their divisions. A
written notice is the only legal form of invitation," the statement
said.
The presidential election in the country is due on February 19, 2008.
There are nine contenders for the Armenian presidency. They are Prime
Minister Serzh Sarkisian, Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Vaan
Ovannisian, the former president Ter Petrosian, former prime minister
Vazgen Manukian, former National Assembly speaker Artur Bagdasarian,
People's Party leader Tigran Karapetian, former Nagorno Karabakh
presidential advisor Arman Melikian and National Accord party leader
Aram Arutiunian.
Ter-Petrosian was the first president of the independent Armenia.
December 25, 2007 Tuesday 6:37 PM MSK
Armenia's ex-president claims harassment of his supporters
YEREVAN Dec 25
Armenian presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian has said that law
enforcement bodies are exerting pressure on his supporters.
For nearly two months his supporters across the country have been
subjected to psychological pressure, persecuted and threatened by
police and security officers whose aim is to make them renounce their
support for Ter-Petrosian, the presidential candidate said in his
statement released on Tuesday.
"Apart from being a gross violation of the Election Code, they also
contain an element of an obvious violation of the criminal laws," the
document said.
"All such actions registered until now will sooner or later become an
object of a special inquiry and all who were in charge will face
justice. Not a single police or security officer has the right to
invite, whether orally or by phone, citizens to their divisions. A
written notice is the only legal form of invitation," the statement
said.
The presidential election in the country is due on February 19, 2008.
There are nine contenders for the Armenian presidency. They are Prime
Minister Serzh Sarkisian, Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Vaan
Ovannisian, the former president Ter Petrosian, former prime minister
Vazgen Manukian, former National Assembly speaker Artur Bagdasarian,
People's Party leader Tigran Karapetian, former Nagorno Karabakh
presidential advisor Arman Melikian and National Accord party leader
Aram Arutiunian.
Ter-Petrosian was the first president of the independent Armenia.