Bloc of 3 Armenian ex-ministers not recognizing parliamentary election results
YEREVAN. April 4 (Interfax) - The Ohanyan-Raffi-Oskanian opposition bloc, which was established by former Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan and the country's former Foreign Ministers Raffi Hovannisian and Vardan Oskanian, says it sees the parliamentary election held in Armenia on April 2 as illegitimate.
"Armenia took a large step back because of the parliamentary election on April 2. It was not an election, but vote trading and a systemic falsification organized by the authorities. The election results do not reflect the actual sentiments and interests of our society," the bloc said in a statement on Monday.
The bloc received 2.07% of the vote in the April 2 election, which is below the 7% threshold a party needs to pass to enter parliament.
"Illegitimate power has been formed in Armenia once again, as a result of which a political monopoly has taken root, and the problems that exist in the country will aggravate. The authorities appear to be willing to strengthen the idea within society that it is impossible to achieve any changes in Armenia through elections. What we saw was the rivalry between rich 'backyard gang bosses'," it said.
The bloc's forces will continue their work "for the benefit of Armenia and citizens' worthy lives," it said.
"We are convinced that this nightmare cannot last for a long time because our country is facing challenges in the presence of which it would be wasteful to entrust the state to such authorities. Changes are unavoidable, and we will be at the forefront of the processes leading to changes," the three former ministers said in their statement.
It was reported earlier that the Republican Party of Armenia was leading in the election with 49.12% of the vote. It is followed by the Tsarukyan Alliance led by one of Armenia's top businessmen and Prosperous Armenia party leader Gagik Tsarukyan with 27.32% of the vote, MP Nikol Pashinyan-led Yelk opposition bloc with 7.77% of the vote, and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation 'Dashnaktsutyun' with 6.57% of the vote.
