April 20, 2007

Heritage Holds Second Press Briefing, Welcomes Annulment of “Armenian Watergate” Ruling

Yerevan—Today at the Court of Criminal Appeals a hearing was held regarding the “Armenian Watergate”—the theft last year of constitutionally-protected information from the computer database of Heritage Party’s headquarters. In the presence of party founder Raffi K. Hovannisian and attorney Zaruhi Postanjian, the tribunal annulled the February 13 ruling of the Central and Nork-Marash Court of First Instance. The appeals panel also decided to return the instant case to the lower court for a substantive reexamination of Hovannisian’s complaint against the Armenian Prosecutor General’s office for its refusal to institute a criminal case with regard to this Armenian version of the Watergate scandal.

Also today, Heritage Party spokesman Hovsep Khurshudian conducted the party’s second press briefing at Heritage campaign headquarters. He discussed recent developments in the ongoing election campaign and gave a high assessment of Heritage’s two-day journey to the towns and villages of the Vayots Dzor and Siunik marzes. Khurshudian took note of the artificial difficulties and obstacles which the campaign still faces, specifically in the outlying regions, with respect to the lawful public posting of campaign posters and announcements. Accordingly, Heritage has dispatched a formal letter to the Central Election Commission demanding a full explanation of these illegal actions.

Tomorrow, Heritage will hold a citizens’ assembly at the Government Conference Facility near Republic Square. The event will begin at 2pm and is open to the public.