Yerevan mayor declines invitation for debates in city council election

YEREVAN, April 30. /ARKA/. Opposition political parties reacted angrily to the refusal of Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan, who is now topping the list of the Republican Party of Armenia in the race for seats in the city council, to participate in the election debates organized by Civilitas Foundation. 

Armen Yeritsyan, acting emergency minister, who is placed atop the list of Orinats Yerkir party, has refrained from joining debates as well. 

Vardan Oskanian, a former foreign minister and number one in Prosperous Armenia party’s list, said that the absence of the incumbent mayor proves that there is a political monopoly, which lets them dodge responsibility. 

Armen Martirosyan, deputy chairman of Heritage who is this party’s key candidate in the elections, explaining the absence of the mayor from the debates, said the latter wants to avoid responsibility for the last four years. 

Armen Rustamyan, the top candidate of Armenian Revolutionary Federation/Dashnaktsutiun, said that the present city authorities prefer to buy votes and intimidate voters rather than win their affection. 

ARKA News Agency failed to get in touch with Taron Margaryan’s campaigners to find out why he declined the invitation. 

The organizers of the debates didn’t allow Hovhannes Margaryan, who was supposed to speak on behalf of Armen Yeritsyan from Orinats Yerkir, to join other candidates. He said the organizers explained their denial by the fact that Orinats Yerkir had ostensibly refused to take part in the debate.   

“This is not true,” he told ARKA News Agency’s correspondent. “We are ready for discussion in any format that would make the election processes transparent and controlled.”

The voting in the city council elections is scheduled for May 5.

The city council, consisting of 65 members, elects the city mayor. Under the law, candidates for the mayoral seat are nominated by the council’s factions. The elections are contested by Arakelutyun (Mission), Prosperous Armenia, the Armenian National Congress, Orinats Yerkir, the Republican Party of Armenia, Armenian Revolutionary Federation/ Dashnaktsutiun parties and Barev Yerevan bloc. -0-