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KARABAKH'S BABAYAN POISED FOR ELECTION CLASH WITH SARKISIAN BROTHER
By Karine Kalantarian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Feb 14 2007
Samvel Babayan, the former commander of Nagorno-Karabakh's army,
is gearing up for an intriguing challenge against a controversial
brother of Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian during this spring's
Armenian parliamentary elections.
An aide to Babayan on Wednesday confirmed that the once powerful
general will run for parliament in a constituency in southeastern
Armenian on which Aleksandr Sarkisian has reportedly set his sights.
The single-mandate district No. 37 covers an area in the Syunik region
which is close to Karabakh.
"The party and its leader have decided that he will nominate his
candidacy in the district No. 37," a senior member of Babayan's Dashink
(Alliance) party, Andranik Tevanian, told journalists. He said Babayan
will run there in addition to topping Dashink's list of candidates
for the system of proportional representation.
Even though Aleksandr Sarkisian has not ascertained his election
plans, it is expected that he will seek a seat in the next National
Assembly from that constituency. Sarkisian, who is notorious for
his flamboyant behavior and extravagant lifestyle, was elected to
the current parliament from the proportional slate of the governing
Republican Party (HHK). The HHK is now headed by his powerful brother
and is therefore likely to throw its weight behind his bid.
It is not clear if Babayan will enjoy the backing of any government
factions in the potentially tense race between the two Karabakh-born
men. The Dashink leader, who commanded the Karabakh army during its
victorious war with Azerbaijan, claims to be in opposition to President
Robert Kocharian. But some opposition leaders and commentators suspect
him of secretly cooperating with Kocharian.
There are also lingering questions about Babayan's eligibility to
contest the May 12 elections. Under Armenia's constitution, only those
Armenian citizens who have permanently resided in the country for the
past five years can run for parliament. Although Babayan received an
Armenian passport during the early 1990s, he moved from Karabakh to
Armenia less than three years ago.
Still, Tevanian insisted that Babayan is eligible to be a candidate.
He pointed to a 1989 act by the Soviet Armenian parliament that
declared Karabakh a part of Armenia. Kocharian, who also comes from
Karabakh, invoked the same declaration when he was controversially
registered as a presidential candidate in 1998.
Critics have argued that the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic declared itself an independent state after a referendum
in 1991, something which was reaffirmed by its recently enacted
constitution. They also note that Karabakh residents have not been
allowed to vote in elections held in Armenia since then.
By Karine Kalantarian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Feb 14 2007
Samvel Babayan, the former commander of Nagorno-Karabakh's army,
is gearing up for an intriguing challenge against a controversial
brother of Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian during this spring's
Armenian parliamentary elections.
An aide to Babayan on Wednesday confirmed that the once powerful
general will run for parliament in a constituency in southeastern
Armenian on which Aleksandr Sarkisian has reportedly set his sights.
The single-mandate district No. 37 covers an area in the Syunik region
which is close to Karabakh.
"The party and its leader have decided that he will nominate his
candidacy in the district No. 37," a senior member of Babayan's Dashink
(Alliance) party, Andranik Tevanian, told journalists. He said Babayan
will run there in addition to topping Dashink's list of candidates
for the system of proportional representation.
Even though Aleksandr Sarkisian has not ascertained his election
plans, it is expected that he will seek a seat in the next National
Assembly from that constituency. Sarkisian, who is notorious for
his flamboyant behavior and extravagant lifestyle, was elected to
the current parliament from the proportional slate of the governing
Republican Party (HHK). The HHK is now headed by his powerful brother
and is therefore likely to throw its weight behind his bid.
It is not clear if Babayan will enjoy the backing of any government
factions in the potentially tense race between the two Karabakh-born
men. The Dashink leader, who commanded the Karabakh army during its
victorious war with Azerbaijan, claims to be in opposition to President
Robert Kocharian. But some opposition leaders and commentators suspect
him of secretly cooperating with Kocharian.
There are also lingering questions about Babayan's eligibility to
contest the May 12 elections. Under Armenia's constitution, only those
Armenian citizens who have permanently resided in the country for the
past five years can run for parliament. Although Babayan received an
Armenian passport during the early 1990s, he moved from Karabakh to
Armenia less than three years ago.
Still, Tevanian insisted that Babayan is eligible to be a candidate.
He pointed to a 1989 act by the Soviet Armenian parliament that
declared Karabakh a part of Armenia. Kocharian, who also comes from
Karabakh, invoked the same declaration when he was controversially
registered as a presidential candidate in 1998.
Critics have argued that the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic declared itself an independent state after a referendum
in 1991, something which was reaffirmed by its recently enacted
constitution. They also note that Karabakh residents have not been
allowed to vote in elections held in Armenia since then.