At 8:40 p.m. on May 25, 2003 in Precinct #24 in the village of Shahumyan, local resident Vrezh Avetisyan was killed, and the Local Election Commission chairwoman and an Ardarutiun (Justice) Bloc proxy were wounded in a shooting.
20.00 - Throughout the country, the polling stations have closed; the election is over. The commissions have begun the process of tabulation.
President Robert Kocharyan is waiting. He’s waiting for the results of the parliamentary elections, and the new headaches they are going to create for him. Things are getting out of hand. There is nothing to unite the political forces who supported the president anymore.
“I was a teacher for 40 years. Two days ago a former student of mine came to my house and offered me 15,000 Drams (about $25) to vote for some businessman. I am ashamed that I had such a student. No one has any dignity in this town anymore,” says 65-year-old pensioner M.S.
On May 9, 2003 Martin Hovhannissyan, a candidate for parliament in Precinct # 2 in the Nor Nork district of Yerevan, organized a festive banquet for veterans of World War II. The party took place in Hovannisyan's store in Nor Nork. Afterwards, the veterans were presented with a pack of cigarettes and 5,000 drams (about $9) each.
“Not according to a document, but heart and soul -- our government, your president!” That’s how Hasmik Ghazaryan, a teacher from Katnaghbiur village in the Aragatsotn Marz (province) introduced Stepan Demirchyan and the leaders of the Ardarutiun (Justice) Bloc and to her fellow villagers. In other places, the message is essentially the same. The people have decided that Stepan Demirchyan was elected president of Armenia and they don’t...
“I am sure that there will be election violations this time, too. The parliamentary elections will be as fair as the presidential was - fish stinks from the head,” said Vigen Kirakosyan, a resident of the village of Kamaris in the Kotayk Marz (province).
We are here by the invitation of the Armenian Government to observe the conduct of the parliamentary elections. That means, not only the Election Day, but the process leading up to Election Day, beginning with the campaign season, the registration of candidates, all through the vote and the appeals. It is essentially the same thing we did during the presidential elections and what we have done for every election held here since 1996.
On May 9th and 10th the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) campaigned in the Shirak Marz. The residents of Shirak received the Republicans with an offering of bread and salt, with music and dances.