YEREVAN (Yerkir/Noyan Tapan)–In a February 5 statement following the February 4 violence that resulting in the stabbing of National Assembly member Hayk Babukhanian–the Supreme Body of the ARF Armenia’strongly condemned the incident–saying–"an act of violence–grossly violating the right of citizens to free choice in an equal pre-election environment–was committed during the course of orderly election campaigning by two presidential candidates."
In the statement–the ARF calls for authorities to quickly find and punish those responsible–regardless of who may be behind the provocation–and denounces law enforcement bodies for not repressing the disorder that lead to the violence–"We also condemn the inaction of law enforcement bodies and demand that any disruption of public order be prevented in the future."
Urging all political forces to be guided solely by civilized means in conducting elections campaigns–the ARF again–as it has consistently done so–stressed the necessity of holding free–fair and transparent elections to benefit of Armenia and its people. Attacker Comes Forward
In connection with the stabbing–Yerkir reported that authorities arrested on Thursday the person who stabbed Babukhanian.
The assailant–identified as Grigor Ohanian of Mrgavan village–turned himself in and admitted to stabbing Babukhanian with a metal sheet.
Police–meanwhile–have launched an internal inquiry to investigate why local police officers failed to interfere and restore order during the rally.