Oskanian, Arsenian and Manukain to give up their seats in Council

It is difficult to consider what took place on May 5 as elections. Former Foreign Minister of Armenia, deputy of Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) faction Vartan Oskanian expressed such an opinion in an interview with RFE/RL.

Oskanian questioned the fairness of the May 5 elections, saying that one should be ashamed of what happened. “How can I explain the fact that ARFD, Orinats Yerkir Party, and Armenian National Congress did not win seats in the Council of Elders? How can I find out if it is a good or bad result? How can we find out if Republican Party won or lost? Who were those people at polling stations? Minibuses brought voters to polling stations, old people were accompanied, some ballot papers were marked by color pens (according to people present there), and all this was for Republican Party,” the deputy said.

As regards the issue of their seats in the Council, BHK has not yet taken an official decision. One thing is clear: Vartan Oskanian, Gurgen Arsenian, and Abraham Manukian who were the top three on the BHK list will give up their seats in the Yerevan Council of Elders.

At the same time Oskanian expressed an opinion that it would be wrong to give up all the 17 seats they have won.

“From a political viewpoint, we should not accept these mandates, but in the interests of the people, it will be possible to keep all the problems at the center of attention, put pressure on the majority and communicate with people – in case of working at the Council,” Oskanian noted.

Commenting on distribution of bribes by BHK, Oskanian said: “Perhaps I am detached from what is going on. If it did take place, it is blameworthy”.