Sarkisian ahead with 58%, Hovannisian Declares Victory for the People

YEREVAN (A.W.)—According to the preliminary results of the Feb. 18 presidential elections in Armenia, as posted on the official website of the Election Commission, President Serge Sarkisian has secured more than 58 percent of the vote, with opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian garnering close to 37 percent. The latter declared victory for the people of Armenia in an impassioned speech he called his “post-election speech.”

A few minutes before the polls close in Armenia, a citizen votes at School Number 88 in Yerevan.  (Photo: The Armenian Weekly)
A few minutes before the polls close in Armenia, a citizen votes at School Number 88 in Yerevan. (Photo: The Armenian Weekly)

The results of the election show Sarkissian with 58.64 percent of the vote; Hovannisian with 36.75 percent; Hrant Pakradyan with 2.15 percent; Paruyr Hairikian with 1.23 percent; Vartan Setrakyan with 0.42 percent; Antranik Ghougassyan with 0.57 percent; and Arman Melikyan with 0.24 percent.

“This victory, which I claim today, belongs to the Armenian people… I bow to the rule of the citizens of the Republic of Armenia,” said Hovannisian, noting that it was a victory for the Armenian people. “Citizens of Armenia have spoken clearly today, saying this is our country, our republic,” he said, adding that “Armenia deserves a de jure presidency… This is not about Raffi and Serge. It is not about the Heritage or Republican parties, but the future of Armenia.”

Hovannisian said that he would not be running for a second term. “We too have national interests,” he said, and listed Armenian Genocide recognition, reparations from Turkey, and the right to self-determination of Karabagh. He also likened the case of Karabagh to that of Kosovo, South Sudan, and East Timor.

Instances of voter fraud and irregularities were reported throughout the country, including attempted briberies, passport falsifications, threats and intimidations, stolen ballots, and disappearing ink—something that was seen in the 2012 parliamentary elections as well. Heritage Party spokesperson Hovsep Khurshudyan noted “concrete examples” of such fraud just before Hovannisian’s speech. Over 350 instances of irregularities, ranging from threats to bribery and vote rigging, were also reported on the online election monitoring site iDitord.org.

The Armenian Weekly editor and reporters will provide detailed coverage of the election and its aftermath from Yerevan. For updates, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

15 Comments

  1. For the better or the worst we will have another 4 years of Sarkissyan & Co. I hope this “victory” won’t make him feel like a tzar and make him take stupid decisions.

  2. Serge Sarkisian has no new ideas as was seen in the campaign. He’s brain dead. His is the front man of the Oligarch’s, who have hijacked the government.

    Government employees were told to vote for him if they wanted to keep their jobs.

  3. Conratulations to Mr Sarkissian!
    At least Sarkissian is a unifier, no matter what you think, and not a divider as some others. Sarkisian has come a long way, I believe that the country has made progress, much remains to be done, and it would have been a pitty to let this job half finished. It is worth remembering that this is a man of experience at least, he has strong shoulders for this function, he has already established contacts and anchored with world leaders and has the confidence of world leaders .
    Let us all be united and stop believing in some rumors. Do not be so naive and easily manipulated. Sarkissian is the right man for Armenia !
    May God gives him the strength to continue to make Armenia stronger, both internally and externally, more beautiful and more healthy.

  4. In an open letter(addressed to our press in Diaspora,from N& s.Americas to Europe to RF to Middle East and R.of Armenia (Homeland)I have ¨suggested¨ a Concilliatory Gov.t to be formed -if Serge Sargsyan was to win -which he did and once at the helm of the country to being appointing as his immediate Cabinet members, Raffi Hovanissian, Paruyr Hairikina ,Melikian, Bagratian and all others aspiring candidates to New posts-positions. Also those of our intellectuals who did not set forth their candidacy but were there/ are there.
    For that would be the MOST adequate thign to do.Armenia at this cornerstone NEEDS REAL CLOOPERATION AMONGST ITS E L I T E …
    As to those who begin to badmout either of the contending parties ,I say ¨you will not succeed in yoiur Divide and rule, strategy¨.For we must now begin to also admit that there are quite a few adversary agents amongst our people, world-wide injecting such like propaganda..Raffi may go to Liberty square and defy the pres.elect ,saying that he did not win..
    But, realty is otherwise dear Raffi .Serge Sargsyan (like you yourself just a day or two ago expressed,Serge has glood track record…
    So …CONCILLIATORY MODIUS VIVENDI IS WHAT IS REQUIRED…

  5. In addition, I think that politicians like Raffi Hovanissian who also have the nationality of another country (and not least with regards to RH) would better focus on their involvement in the political life of their country of birth instead of focusing on Armenia. Not that I don’t consider him no to be a pure Armenian, but I think it would be wiser, smarter and certainly more rewarding for the concerned person (and not only for him). Armenians would be especially proud to have in the future, for example an American president of Armenian descent !

  6. Armenians do not need a U.S. president of Armenian descent (we had 20+ Byzantine emperors of Armenian descent, didn’t do much help to us). Armenians need a president of Armenia who understands how a democratic country should function. Someone like Raffi knows way more as to what a democratic state looks like (which is the only way to save Armenia from eventual demise) than clowns such as Serzh Sarkissian. Armenians who have lived in Western democracies have enormous knowledge and experience regarding democratic state building, and the people of Armenia can greatly benefit from that knowledge.

    As for Sarkissian already having connections with the world leaders, it only means that he is a puppet of these leaders. That is why he can safely say that “yeghern” and “genocide” are the same thing, because he does not care what his people think. In a democracy, he would never be re-elected for saying nonsense like that. As long as Armenia is not a democracy, its leaders will be puppets serving foreign powers. The sooner we get rid of these thugs, the better Armenia’s chances of survival will be.

  7. Pat, you strike me as a real dolt. Sargsyan a unifier? a job half-finished? on par with world leaders? A bit of advice….Come to Armenia and live here. Then perhaps we can talk rationally,

  8. Vahagn & TIkatintsi, don’t sell the skin till you have caught the bear…
    Perfection is something quite impossible to have, but what is sure is that the eternal dissatisfaction, is a characteristic of the human being, which can be positive when we know how to use it, eg. learning from mistakes, or negative and very damaging from the moment we are accustomed to it and start even taking some pleasure in it and finally let us be guided by it. When rationality is obstructed then we cannot be objective, but we prefer to stubbornly focus on the illusion that Armenia would with another Armenia with zero defects.

    If you think that Raffi Hovannisian is rather a unifier, and by becoming Armenia’s president he could have done much better more than Sarkisian did and that he could have engraved the word Genocide on Mount Lee overlooking Hollywood” [and consequently the world], then you’re probably in a sweet dream unless this is the effect of what I said a few lines above…

    btw : Optimistic people tend to stay in the country or at least they try to settle in Armenia without ulterior motives, and generally pessimistic leave the country (and it does not prevent them from criticizing the country by far).

    • Pat… The difference is that the current rulers of Armenia use their position FOR Purely SELF GAIN. What is Sarkisians net worth growth in the last 5 years?

      Yes no republic is perfect.. However corruption, an oligarch system and basically ripping off your own is not acceptable. And yes it is a rip off of your own. Tough to be optimistic..

      Sorry but i believe that Hovanessian would be more for the people and their well being..

  9. Pat, judging from the continuing emigration from Armenia, for some reason there are way too many “pessimists” than “optimists” in Armenia. And more and more “optimists” are turning to “pessimists.” Labeling people pessimists and optimists will not prevent Armenia from depopulating and eventually ceasing to exist. The solution is to create a system where people have a hope of changing their lives and their government instead of leaving. Those same “pessimists” who come to the U.S. face numerous challenges here and yet somehow do not move to another country, but stay and work to make their lives better. Armenians in Armenia deserve that kind of a system. Noone expects some ideal perfect state. And Raffi has both the knowledge and the willingness to run a decent functioning state.

  10. Vahagn, It is very easy to talk about emigration and point the finger on Serge Sarkisian. Emigration from Armenia will be with or without Sarkisian in every way. This is a real problem, fixed in the mind of each concerned individual. We could go further into détails about these persons who found it so easy and very advantageous to leave the country [you know exactly what I am talking about], but it is not the issue here.

    It is up to us to make life more pleasant and beautiful in Armenia. All of us, all together. Constructive criticism is always good to take and I’m quite sure that Sarkisian is not the kind of man to turn a deaf ear.

    Hovannesian is disappointed with his failure, that’s normal, he aspired to so many things… but he must admit it now, it’s time to turn the page, he must focus his energy on other constructive projects [not destructive], as I said before, he’s role is more to focus in American politics, his country of birth. There, he could surely meet competitors of his “caliber”, with a more familiar way of thinking and acting… Unless he doesn’t feel up to it?

  11. Come on John !! No way! This guy does not inspire any confidence in me! The kind of person who keeps his cards close to his chest.

  12. Pat, there is nothing easy about leaving your home and life behind and moving to another country. Armenians who come to the U.S. go through unimaginable challenges for many years to build their new lives. Which tells me, how messed up the conditions are in Armenia to compel them to go through all that. No, it is not true that emigration will exist whether Serzh is president or not. When I listen to those Armenians who come to the U.S., they talk about lawlessness, the impunity of the oligarchs, and lack of hope for any change as the reasons for their departure. All that can change if there is a president willing to make Armenia democratic, hold everyone equally accountable before the law, and respect basic human rights. Right now, Serzh is not willing, and Raffi is both willing and knowledgeable to do it. Yes, it is up to us to make Armenia better and more beautiful, and the way to do it is by following the example of established successful democracies. It does not get any more constructive than that, and if Serzh is unwilling to listen, he has to go.

    • “Armenians who come to the U.S. go through unimaginable challenges for many years to build their new lives.”

      They should have stayed in their home country instead and spent their energy there, trying at least to build something up (I’m talking about new generations most of whom have left with cowardice and ease, abandoned Armenia, for no valid reasons, just creating wrong ones to relieve their conscience.)
      And what are they doing so good in Glendale and surroundings now…? Oh I forgot, they probably are living in a democracy they have always dreamed of?!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*