Political scientist: Incumbent president has no serious rival

“The victory of the incumbent President is predetermined. I don’t see anyone who can compete with him”, political scientist Sergei Shakariants told reporters today.

According to him, the election result was determined at the moment when the major opposition forces decided not to run in the presidential election.

In his opinion, among the eight presidential candidates are persons who are already ready to state they cannot carry on a struggle because of violations and injustices. “This is an old scenario,” Shakariants noted.

He said the nomination of candidates, whom voters neither know nor trust, is senseless: “A question arises: how were these candidates able to pay an electoral pledge of 8 million drams?”