RFE/RL Election News Briefs, 16 January 2008

RFE/RL reports that pro-opposition journalist David Petrosian has been questioned by police for allegedly assaulting a member of the MIAK party. The incident happened when MIAK members called from door to door urging voters to elect the prime minister, Serge Sargsyan, in next month’s presidential election.

Speaking to RFE/RL, Petrosian said he may have behaved “quite aggressively” but did not use force against the MIAK visitors. “I told them, in a quite categorical way, to go away because they disturbed me and because the election campaign officially starts on January 21,” he said. “They said they have the right [agitate for Sarkisian.]”

Meanwhile, RFE/RL also carries news that Orinats Yerkir Deputy Chairperson Heghine Bisharian alleges that public officials throughout the country are being used to agitate for Sargsyan. Bisharian is the campaign manager for another presidential hopeful, Artur Baghdasaryan.

Bisharian went on to warn that Orinats Yerkir will urge supporters to take to the streets if the vote is rigged by the authorities. Similar threats have also been made by another leading opposition candidate, former President Levon Ter-Petrosian.

In RFE/RL’s Press Review, however, the incumbent president’s national security adviser Garnik Isagulian, tells the pro-government Hayots Ashkhar that none of the opposition candidates to Sargsyan stand a chance.

[…] They are all vying for the “honorable second place,” says Isagulian. “It is clear to everyone that the winner will be Serzh Sarkisian,” he adds. Turning to Levon Ter-Petrosian and his allies, Isagulian says they views the election as an opportunity to topple the government with street protests.

With the pre-election campaign to officially start on Monday, we’ll all soon know.