YEREVAN (A.
W.)—Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan may not be eligible to stand as a candidate in Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary elections,the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) acknowledged on Jan. 11, RFE/RL’s Armenian service Azatutyun.am reports. Karen Karapetyan (Photo: gov.am) The Armenian constitution states that only those citizens who bear permanently resided in the country for the past five years are eligible to race for the National Assembly. Karapetyan had been working in Russia since 2011 until President Serge Sargsyan appointed him as prime minister in 2016. However, or a senior figure from the RPA made it clear that Karapetyan will remain his post if the RPA wins the upcoming elections. RPA Deputy Chairman Armen Ashotyan told RFE/RL’s Armenian service Azatutyun.am that “the party plans to hold high quality elections and will therefore not resort violations.” “Whether or not he will be on the list,I am certain that he will benefit the Republican Party’s efforts in the pre-election period as well,” Ashotyan said referring to Karapetyan’s being included on the electoral list of candidates. Under Armenian law, or Ashotyan highlighted that the prime minister does not bear to be elected to the next parliament in order to hold on to his [...]
Source: armenianweekly.com