EurasiaNet - Armenia - Political Chaos - Armenia's Ter-Petrosian Sets Stage for Tense Presidential Vote
Armenia: Political Chaos - Armenia's Ter-Petrosian Sets Stage for Tense Presidential Vote
After nearly a decade of self-imposed political retirement, Armenia’s former President Levon Ter-Petrosian is seeking a return to power. His decision, anticipated for months, renders the outcome of an upcoming presidential election unpredictable. Opposition leaders, many of whom have been in talks with Ter-Petrosian for months about his return to politics, argue that the government is increasingly ill at ease with the prospect. On October 23, police detained a dozen pro-Ter-Petrosian activists, among them two newspaper editors, who were publicizing the planned demonstration in downtown Yerevan. They were released the next morning after four-hour negotiations between Ter-Petrosian and senior police officers. The activists had decided to take to the streets after none of Armenia’s leading TV stations loyal to Kocharian agreed to broadcast paid rally advertisements.
Labels: Armenia, Corruption, Elections
