Artsakh CEC Chairman: I’m sure elections will be free and fair
Election campaign launches today in Artsakh. It will last till the midnight of July 17. Panorama.am requested CEC Chairman Rashid Petrosyan a few questions about the forthcoming presidential elections.
-Is Central election commission of the Republic of Artsakh ready to hold free and fair elections?
-All the activities that we have carried out are to serve that mission and I’m sure, we will manage it.
-A presidential candidate Vitaly Balasanyan sent an open letter to incumbent president claiming he is breaking the law carrying out election campaign while it’s not officially started. Has the commission remarked on that letter?
-Nothing special, not a single fact was pointed in that letter. The candidates have not still placed posters anywhere, the election headquarters opened today. The CEC held a session today to remind the candidates the general rules for holding election campaign.
-Do you mean that equal conditions are guaranteed for all the candidates?
-In accordance with the Election Code equal TV and radio broadcast conditions are provided to all the candidates.
-At the moment, do you have withdrawals?
-No, there are four candidates running in the election campaign.
Presidential elections will be held in Artsakh on July 19. Four candidates run in it – MP, former deputy Defense Minister Vitaly Balasanyan, retired Valeri Khachatryan, incumbent president Bako Sahakyan and Arkadi Soghomonyan.