YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–"Election of the president of the National Olympic Committee of Armenia held on February 26 are illegal. The reason for this negative attitude towards me is that I am a representative of the opposition deputy group ‘Hayrenik’," ex-president of the National Olympic Committee of Armenia–member of parliament Alexan Avetissian said at a news conference Monday.
According to him–those participating in the elections were subjected to pressure–especially in the way the voting was conducted. Avetissian said that the elections were open. He said that this "environment was created by certain political forces enjoying the president’s support." The creation of impedimen’s for holding democratic elections is a continuation of "witch hunt" tactics being held by the country’s leadership–he said. Meanwhile–journalists learned from Avetissian’s answers that he himself was elected president of NOC by open voting.
Alexan Avetissian said he was going to appeal to the International Olympic Committee and state that the elections of new NOC president Benur Pashayan were illegitimate.