Karapet Israelyan, the battered mayoral candidate for Abovyan, does not preclude that the attack has been mounted by supporters of his opponent Vahan Gevorgyan, informs "168 Zham" newspaper.
The victim, however, does not think his opponents to be behind the attack. "They are all children - both Edwin and the "Palach" (Artur Harutyunyan - editor's note; palach - hangman). As for Vahan, neither he nor his ancestors cannot approach me nearer than 5 meters. However, I do not preclude that one of his supporters might be behind this. This has been done to flatter him", said Israelyan.
Israelyan went into the details of the battering. The incident took place on May 31 in the central market in Abovyan. The victim tells, Karapet Mkrtchyan insulted and beat him. If it weren't for the passersby it would have gone hard with him. To note, there are 5 mayoral candidates for Abovyan - Vahan Gevorgyan, Edwin Tadevosyan, Samvel Hakobyan, Artur Harutyunyan and ex-mayor Karapet Israelyan. The elections are to take place on June 7.
Though at-large candidate Vahan Gevorgyan is considered Gagik Tsarukyan's "protege", the Republican Party believes him to be "their guy" for his expertise work done during standing committees. ARF-D seems to be supporting Gevorgyan, too taking into account that he was the right hand of late Vahan Hovhannisyan.