Administrative levers used against Sasun Mikayelyan
The official campaign of the mayoral elections in Hrazdan is held in unequal conditions, says Sasun Mikayelyan, a candidate of the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC), the sole rival of incumbent Republican Mayor Aram Danielyan
"The local authorities are using their administrative resources to hinder the campaign. But I want to say that my pre-election meetings are held in a warm and crowded atmosphere despite the winter cold and preventive measures," Sasun Mikayelyan told A1+ on the telephone.
The former lawmaker has already held two open-air meetings since the halls are not heated and allocated to the opposition candidate.
Recall that the principal of a local school reportedly had closed teachers in the teachers' room, preventing them from meeting Sasun Mikayelyan. During a telephone talk with A1+, the incumbent mayor Aram Danielyan refuted the information, saying it was fabricated.
Today Sasun Mikayelyan told A1+ that state agencies continue to exert pressure on his supporters. During the meeting with Kakavadzor residents Mikayelyan was informed that school principals invite meetings of parents and urge them to support the incumbent mayor.
From 1996 to1999, Sasun Mikayelyan was mayor of Hrazdan City. In 1999, he was elected deputy in the National Assembly.
Mikayelyan was arrested in the wake of the 2008 post-election riots and later was imprisoned for eight years after being convicted of "illegally possessing weapons and organizing mass disturbances." After spending three years in jail, he was released under an amnesty in May 2011.
Aram Danielyan has been the mayor of Hrazdan since 2002.
