PM Sargsyan Wins Presidential Election

The BBC reports that the prime minister, Serge Sargsyan, has won yesterday’s presidential election in Armenia amidst opposition allegations of fraud, intimidation and violence on election day. However, the reports also says that the protest currently being staged by former president Levon Ter-Petrossian is quite small.

Mr Sarkisian won 52.9% of the vote, with his nearest rival, ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosian, trailing on 21.5%.

But Mr Ter-Petrosian said Tuesday’s vote had been rigged, calling for a protest rally in the capital Yerevan.

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe said the poll broadly met democratic standards.

“Yesterday’s presidential election in Armenia was conducted mostly in line with the country’s international commitments,” the OSCE’s observer mission said in a statement.

But it added that “further improvements are necessary to address remaining challenges”.

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On Wednesday, more than 15,000 supporters of Mr Ter-Petrosian gathered at a protest rally near Armenia’s election commission building in central Yerevan.

Riot police have been deployed to prevent any disturbances.