YEREVAN. – In their election programs, the presidential contenders of Armenia have not reflected on solving the October 27, 1999 crime that took place in the parliament, in the case when former opposition presidential candidates, namely, People’s Party of Armenia Chairman Stepan Demirchyan and opposition bloc Armenian National Congress leader—and First President—Levon Ter-Petrosyan, had pledged this in 2003 and in 2008 respectively, Zhoghovurd daily reports.   

“Except for [presidential hopeful, opposition] Heritage Party Chairman Raffi Hovannisian, the other candidates have not reflected also on solving the March 1, 2008 crime [that is, the tragedy that occurred in capital city Yerevan].

And since the silence of [the ruling Republican Party candidate, serving President] Serzh Sargsyan—who was National Security Minister on October 27, 1999, and PM on March 1, 2008—is understandable, this [situation] causes bewilderment, specifically in the case of the opposition candidates, especially when the chapters of October 27 and March 1 remain open,” Zhoghovurd writes.