Azernews.Az

The presidential election held in Armenia on Tuesday was marred by major violations of law.
The senior electoral body had already been inundated with pleas concerning irregularities by noon. Reports circulated about widespread ballot stuffing by the authorities' supporters and "carousels", a form of multiple voting. Local courts reviewed dozens of complaints on election day.
The flaws in the work of the Central Election Commission were revealed when many citizens failed to find their names in voter lists at ballot stations.
The opposition labeled the election campaign as unfair and vowed to take to the streets if the vote is rigged.
Polling stations closed at 8 p.m. and first results are due on Wednesday. Final results must be released within seven days of the vote. A run-off vote will be contested by the top two candidates unless one of the nominees gains over half of the votes in the first round of the elections.
According to opinion polls, Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian, an ally of outgoing President Robert Kocharian, is likely to win, as he enjoys over 50 percent popular support.
At a polling station in the capital Yerevan, representatives of an election hopeful got into a fight with the election commission chairman. The incident came after the election headquarters of the National Democracy Union chairman Vazgen Manukian informed his supporters that there had been an attempt to remove ballot papers from the polling station. Tension subsided after interference by the police.
The irregularities at the polls in the 3.2 million nation included violence against a journalist. The Aykakan Jamanac newspaper's reporter Lusine Barsegian who witnessed ballot stuffing first-hand attempted to photograph the incident. But ballot station employees took away his still camera, and two youngsters then entered the room and started beating the journalist. The police officers that were nearby failed to stop the attack and Barsegian was subsequently hospitalized in grave condition.
A few hours earlier, an Ayk newspaper employee was physically attacked, while a cameraman working for the A1+ TV channel was stripped off his camera by unidentified individuals.
The most blatant violations were observed later in the day. The authorized representatives of a key candidate, former Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosian were beaten and ousted from ballot stations, the presidential hopeful's election HQ said.
Ter-Petrosian who is already known for his terse criticism of President Kocharian's administration, delivered a strongly-worded statement condemning the irregularities. While expressing confidence that he would sweep the vote, he said serious violations had been committed during the electoral process.
"Very filthy things are going on. There are thousands of concrete facts proving violations of law," Ter-Petrosian told reporters, urging his electorate to strive for their voices to be heard.
Ter-Petrosian had to step down in 1998 and is now seeking a comeback.
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian maintained that Armenia was conducting a free and fair election.
"It's not important whether the election will be held in one or two rounds. The most important point is that our election be trustworthy," he said after voting.
Sarkisian said further that he had no intention to make changes in the government if elected. "I see no conditions conducive for a revolution in the country and have never witnessed them before."
Analysts say that if elected, Sarkisian will essentially continue Kocharian's 10-year political course that was based on efforts to boost economic growth and stand-offish position towards Azerbaijan and Turkey.
A high voter turnout was registered at the polls, which was not the case during the 2007 parliamentary poll. 69% of eligible voters cast their ballots, the election commission said.