"HAK will enjoy a crushing victory"
"Levon Ter-Petrosyan will surely enjoy a crushing victory provided that a free and fair mayoral election is held in Yerevan," says Levon Zurabyan, Coordinator of the Armenian National Congress (HAK).
Mr. Zurabyan says Levon Ter-Petrosyan already has 70-75 percent of votes although Gagik Beglaryan's nomination by the Republican Party (HHK) arouses doubts over the fair conduct of the election. Beglaryan's nomination conveyed a distinct message pursuing criminal goals. It suggested that all administrative resources will be employed. If the authorities longed for equal competitive conditions, they wouldn't name Gagik Beglaryan as Yerevan's Mayor.
The HAK possesses verified information that in comparison with the February 19 Presidential election, 8 000 additional people have been added to the electoral lists of the May 31 election.
The HAK has already asked the Central Election Commission for the final list. "We are going to check it to predict the volume of election rigging by the authorities."
"The authorities realise that the wave of protest will hot up if they continue straining the social situation in the country," Levon Zurabyan said regarding the recent violations upon the participants of political walks in Northern Avenue.
"They consider the walks as a serious threat. Since the authorities don't enjoy public confidence, they do their utmost to suppress all protests just from the very start."
Anyway, the HAK Coordinator says the Congress is ready to enter a dialogue with the authorities. "Finally, the fate of the Armenian people is put at stake. We don't want any bloodshed or confrontation in the country."
"So far no dialogue has taken place between the opposition and authorities for a simply reason. A dialogue implies the agreement of both sides. If the opponent doesn't seek a dialogue, he must conclude a truce in the war unleashed by him and stop the chase of people. In other words, he must free the political prisoners."
