YEREVAN. – The Armenian News-NEWS.am presents own version of top ten political events of this year.

1. Criminalization of denial of the Armenian Genocide in France

The French Senate recognized on Jan. 25 a bill criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide in France, which was perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire. The Senate’s decision caused a real panic in Turkey, the latter blackmailed and pressed France. As a result, the Constitutional Court of France recognized the bill anti-constitutional.

2. Parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia’s key political event was the May 6 parliamentary elections, where the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) headed by the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan won. It was followed by Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC), Orinats Yerkir and opposition ARF Dashnaktsutyun and Heritage parties, represented in the parliament.

3. Incident in the Harsnakar restaurant

Armenian military doctor Vahe Avetyan and two of his colleagues were brutally beaten on June 17 at the Harsnakar restaurant, which belongs to the RPA MP and head of the Armenian Football Federation Ruben Hayrapetyan. Avetyan died on July 29, as a result Hayrapetyan withdrew his MP mandate.

4. Presidential elections in Artsakh

Artsakh held on July 19 presidential elections, where the incumbent President Bako Sahakyan was re-elected. International observers of over 80 countries, including the United States, Russia, France, Germany and other states monitored the elections.

5. The Azeri killer Safarov scandal

At the end of August, Armenian and international community was shocked by the extradition from Hungary and pardoning in Azerbaijan of an Azeri killer Ramil Safarov, who had axed an Armenian lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest. Armenia ceased diplomatic relations with Hungary, while all the international and prestigious organizations condemned the pardoning and making hero of a killer.

6. International recognition of Artsakh

An Australian New South Wales state recognized on Oct. 25 the right to self-determination of the Karabakh people, and afterwards information on supposedly recognition by the U.S. California was reported. A little later Speaker of the Uruguay Parliament Jorge Orrico visited on Nov. 13 in Artsakh.

7. Tension on the border

This year was notorious by extreme tension on the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of the contact. If earlier Azerbaijani Armed Forces shot at the direction of Artsakh, this time the target was the Armenian border. As a result of the Azerbaijani diversions, which received Armenia’s proper respond, 25 Azeri died according to Azerbaijani media outlets, while Armenian side had 4 losses.

8. Accusations against former Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian

Accusations were brought against Armenian former FM and currently PAP MP Vartan Oskanian, who was heading the Civilitas Foundation and was blamed for money laundering.

9. Split of the opposition ANC

Following the parliamentary elections in Armenia, Armenian National Congress member Republic party left the opposition bloc on May 18. On Dec. 20, the Freedom party leader and former Armenian PM Hrant Bagratyan declared about quitting membership in the bloc and balloting for the next president. Afterwards, Conservative party quitted its membership to the bloc.

 10. 2013 presidential election campaign launched in Armenia

The process for the next presidential elections in Armenia, scheduled for Feb. 18 started in December. Among the candidates to run for the next president is the frontrunner and the incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan, opposition Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian, while PAP, ANC and ARF Dashnaktsutyun will have no nominations.