Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Armenia

Blasts Hit Offices Of Armenian Pro-Presidential Party

(RFE/RL)

YEREVAN, April 12, 2007 (RFE/RL) --- Two explosions ripped through the offices of the pro-presidential Prosperous Armenia party early this morning in Yerevan, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reported.

TEXT SIZE - +

April 12, 2007

No one was injured in the blasts, which caused damage to two of the party's offices in the north of the Armenian capital.

"We think that this provocation was aimed at creating a tense political situation," Prosperous Armenia spokesman Baghdasar Mherian told RFE/RL. "Prosperous Armenia declares that it is against extremists and calls on everyone to conduct its political battle in a civilized way."

Mherian said the party has not been receiving any threats.

Armenian President Robert Kocharian ordered law enforcement agencies to swiftly investigate the incident.

Prosperous Armenia was founded in 2005 by wealthy businessman Gagik Tsarukian and backs the president.

It is tipped to be the leading challenger to the ruling Republican Party in the May parliamentary elections.

Tensions between the two rival parties have increased in recent days, with scuffles reported between campaigning activists.

FURTHER READING
Deja Vu Once Again? Armenia's May parliamentary elections are shaping up to look a lot like the 2003 legislative polls. more	Under Close Scrutiny Yerevan is coming under increasing pressure to hold a free and transparent ballot. more

President Serzh Sarkisian has promised fair elections

Prospect Of Vote-Rigging Overshadows Upcoming Armenian Parliamentary Election

The Armenian parliamentary elections due in May will not simply be a struggle between rival political parties with diverging priorities and platforms. More

Alla Dzhioyeva attends a protest by her supporters in Tskhinvali on January 28.

South Ossetian Opposition Leader Hospitalized After Raid

Alla Dzhioyeva, the opposition candidate whose victory in a runoff ballot in November for de facto president of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia was swiftly annulled by the republic's Supreme Court, was taken to a hospital after a raid by some 200 masked security personnel on her headquarters in Tskhinvali. More

Former KGB head Leonid Tibilov is a presidential hopeful.

Repeat South Ossetian Election Campaign Gathers Momentum

The run-up to the repeat election on March 24 for a new de facto president of Georgia's breakaway Republic of South Ossetia bears an uncanny resemblance to last November's election campaign. More