Armenian ministry of defense reminds: no election campaign allowed in armed forces

YEREVAN, February 13. /ARKA/.  Armenian ministry of defense reminds that election campaigning is forbidden in the Armed Forces, the press service of the ministry of defense reported.

Under Armenian constitution article 8.2, the Armed Forces maintain neutrality in political issues and are under civilian control, according to the report.

This constitutional provision is also reflected in a number of legal acts forbidding election campaign in military units and election campaigning by military servants.

The report also says that involvement of military servants overloaded with their immediate duties in other matters may lead to unforeseeable consequences and jeopardize the country’s security.

At the same time, any military servant, as an Armenian citizen, is free to exercise his right to vote for the candidate and the political force he supports.

“Any interference or obstacle that conflicts with the Armenian laws and restricts the effective exercise of the voting right, any attempt to hold a political or an election campaign in the Armed Forces will be suppressed, and persons taking such steps will be held accountable to the full extent of the law”, said the press service.

Armenian presidential elections are scheduled for February 18. Seven nominees are running for  president: incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan, former prime minister and leader of Freedom party Hrant Bagratyan, former foreign minister and head of Heritage party Raffi Hovhannisyan, famous Soviet dissident and leader of National Self-Determination party Paruyr Hayrikyan, ex foreign minister of Karabakh Arman Melikyan, political scientist and head of Radio Hay Andrias Ghukasyan and philologist Vardan Sedrakyan. -0-