Armenian political analysts treat local self-government elections as uncompetitive

The elections to local self-government bodies in Armenia are deprived of intrigue due to lack of candidates from rival parties, while community leaders, including Yerevan, are dependent on the authorities, believe the political analysts, interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the elections of heads of communities of the Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Gegharkunik, Kotayk, Shirak and Syunik Regions, and members of three Elders’ Councils, are scheduled for February 12.

Ruben Megrabyan, an expert of the Centre for Political and International Studies, has noted that the outcome of the struggle of non-party candidates with candidates from political parties depends on candidates’ personalities. In small communities, family ties are important, and a non-party candidate can defeat the pro-governmental one, he believes.

Grant Mikaelyan, an employee of the Institute of the Caucasus, believes that the elections to Elders’ Councils of small communities are formal. According to his version, in Armenia only three such Councils have real influence – in Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor.

The absence of political content at elections in small communities has to do with the absence of political competition, said Artur Sakunts, a rights defender and the head of the Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Association, and explained: "Out of the parties, only Republicans can nominate their candidates at the elections."

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.