Levon Ter-Petrossian Threatens

After the beating by his supporters of a heckler in Talin as well as a march disrupting traffic and motor procession through Yerevan, presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrossian has issued a statement paradoxically accusing the government of “provocation.”

True, Ter-Petrossian’s campaign office in Kapan has been effectively closed by fairly suspect means, but it is ironic to consider that team behind the former head of state who closed down one political party and various media outlets as well as bringing the army out onto the streets of Yerevan in the aftermath of his deeply flawed re-election in 1996 now threatens the authorities through a statement issued today.

Some pro-government sources allege that Ter-Petrossian is relying on provoking clashes with police and the authorities in order to kick start street protests in lieu of sufficient support in terms of votes. Mediamax has more.

The statement notes that on January 29, “by illegal means” the cars, participating in the “spontaneous” pre-election car-rally of Levon Ter-Petrosian, were taken to a penal ground.

“These actions aim at stopping the victorious march of Levon Ter-Petrosian and take the pre-election situation out of control. We are warning the Armenian authorities that they will be the ones to bear responsibility for the unexpected consequences of such actions”, the statement reads.

Meanwhile, as the press service of the Armenian Police stated the day before, on January 28, a report of the road Police was sent to the Yerevan Department of the Police, according to which at the crossroad of Baghramian Avenue and Demirchian street, the 150-200 drivers, accompanying Levon Ter-Petrosian, not only ignored the requirements of the road Police to stop, but, threatening that they would use force, continued the movement, entering the median strip and creating threat for the life of not only the policemen, but other citizens as well.

Photo: © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2008