ANC opposition rally, Yerevan, 29 May

They’re a little late in coming, but some photos and vdeo taken at Friday’s final pre-election campaign rally by the Armenian National Congress led by the country’s first and former president, Levon Ter-Petrossian. The vote will be the first to indirectly elect a mayor for the capital in 15 years although the opposition view it as a belated second round of last year’s bitterly disputed and controversial presidential election. The international community see it as the first real test of Armenia’s democratic credentials since the 1 March post-election unrest which followed leaving 10 people dead.

Unfortunately, Ter-Petrossian focused more on foreign policy issues than matters relating to governance in the capital let alone many of the problems facing the country domestically. Still, he did finally touch upon the mayoral election. The pro-opposition A1 Plus carries the full text of Ter-Petrossian’s speech.

Many think that the upcoming mayoral election is a do-or-die struggle, while others consider it to be the last chance of the opposition or the Armenian National Congress. I do not share these views. This election is neither do-or-die struggle nor the last chance for us. It is just a means to at least partially better our country’s dire situation, and our society must take advantage of that. This election is not between parties or personalities, this is the election between political/ state systems, -the forces constituting the Cleptocracy and the Armenian National Congress. Should the former be elected the people will prolong the gloomy days of slavery. Should the Congress win the election there will be an opportunity to improve the situation in the country and to radically change the moral atmosphere, to obtain freedom, legal justice and protection.

Paraphrasing a proverb well-known from history, one can come up with the following: the people need a small victorious election to restore self-confidence and to take their destiny in their own hands. One can also say that this election is, first and foremost, a question of dignity for our people. For how long can one tolerate the rule of the ignorant, the criminal and the irresponsible, being mocked and ignored by the rest of the world?

Matenadaran, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2009

Unlike previous rallies by the opposition, local singer-songwriter Mher Manukyan was there to perform for about 5,000 supporters gathered at Yerevan’s Matenadaran on the eve of today’s crucial municipal election. The Caucasian Knot interviewed the singer who rose to popularity among Armenia’s small rock community with his previous band, Lav Eli.

Matenadaran, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2009

As Social Science in the Caucasus recently wrote about the political situation in neighboring Georgia, however, it is unlikely that 80 percent of the population can be considered ready to vote for the opposition. Some international diplomats and local independent journalists instead consider that Ter-Petrossian’s ANC can count on around 30 percent support in the capital. Nevertheless, it is also unlikely that the pro-government parties can count on more support and some suggest that over 30 percent support for the ruling Republican party is really only possible through vote bribes.

Regardless, until a post for Frontline later on election day itself, some photos from Friday’s rally by the opposition ANC. Nice to again have some eye-candy to photograph for a change. The Babe Theory of Political Movements in action again…