ArmInfo.The situation in Artsakh is changing day by day and in such conditions it is almost impossible to make predictions about the outcome of the presidential election. A similar opinion was expressed by ArmInfo, located in Artsakh, director of the Armenian Center for Strategic National Studies Manvel Sargsyan.
"It is difficult to say whether the elections will end on March 31 or whether there will be a second round. As for the candidates' chances, Masis Mayilyan's positions are very strong. And Samvel Babayan's support has strengthened these positions even more. I would single out Vitaliy Balasanyan's significant activation, however, his chances are not known at all "Araik Harutyunyan has traditionally been accused of bribing voters. He does not deny the fact of providing assistance to the population, denying only the connection between help and elections," Sargsyan noted.
According to Sargsyan, many residents of Artsakh accuse President Bako Sahakyan of not only allowing Harutyunyan to engage in such "charity", but also creating all the conditions for this. Sahakyan, however, does not openly support Harutyunyan. However, the very fact of the president's tacit consent for an open distribution of money to the population leads many to think that the authorities are stealthily putting power on Harutyunyan.
According to the analyst, in Artsakh today there is a struggle between supporters of the old, traditional methods of conducting elections and those who have risen up against these methods of Artsakh. It is also very difficult to predict how efficiently the old methods will be applied in elections under such conditions. "One of such methods is widely used by various representatives of the previous system of government. Here they call him telephone terrorism. Every Artsakh citizen knows what they will call and tell them what to do, how to vote. Especially this terrorism is developed in the districts. People call and crush people, indicating who should be vote, "summed up Sargsyan.
The main competitors in the upcoming March 31 presidential and parliamentary elections in Artsakh are ex-minister of state, one of the richest people in the country, Araik Harutyunyan and current Foreign Minister Masis Mailyan. Harutyunyan is supported by the current authorities of Artsakh, Mayilyan is ex- commander of the Artsakh Defense Army Samvel Babayan, several other political forces. In total, 12 presidential candidates registered in the Artsakh CEC.