Free Citizens in a Free and Fair Country. Vitali Balasanyan

Today the presidential election campaign was officially launched in NKR. On this occasion lurer.com interviewed Vitali Balasanyan, president candidate, hero of Artsakh.

-What is your main slogan? Do you have other slogans?

-The main slogan is “Free citizens in a free and fair country.” In various materials other slogans are used as well, for example “Hero President for hero people.”

-What campaign tools do you use?

-Almost all. We make use of free radio and TV air time, I have a page on Facebook, I have a Twitter account as well. The web page http://vitalybalasanyan.com/ was created, where materials from pre-election campaign meetings, my interviews and articles are posted.

-We were informed that you have started your campaign meetings from the State University of Artshakh. What is it conditioned by? Is there any message in it?

-The first day of election campaign was symbolic. I had meetings not only in the University, but with the Police officers as well, and during the second half of the day I visited Ughtasar, Khramort,m Nakhijevanik, Vardadzor communities. The itinerary University-Police – liberated territories demostrates the priorities of my pre-election platform, i.e. developed education and science, law-abidance, transmigration of Artshakh, village development.

-Are you going to visit border-close villages in the framework of election campaign.

-As I have mentioned I visited border-close villages on the very first day. We will try to visit all the communities of Artsakh.

-If you are elected what specific steps are you going to undertake for demographic growth in border-close villages?

-In my platform there is much focus on agricultural development and creation of rural infrastructures. The balanced development of the country is one of my main goals. I was born in the region, and I live at my birthplace now. Poor developed villages are inadmissible. The State has to create at least the minimum necessary rural infrastructures: roads, electricity, water, gas, telephone connection, network. I am sure that after creating such conditions the number of village residents will grow abruptly. Stepanakert has no future without developed village. The concentration of significant part of our population is a challenge to our security.

-Has your campaign headquarters recorded any cases of abuse of administrative resources or distribution of election bribes during this period?

-There were no cases of election bribes recorded and I have informed about the abuse of administrative resources in my recent published open letter.
-Do media outlets allocate equal air time to all the presidential candidates?

-Election campaign has just began. It is only the second day. It will be possible to speak about that in a few weeks.
-Has anybody conducted anti-campaign?

-No
-What are your expectations from presidential elections?

-I expect active participation and reasonable choice. People should demonstrate that they are the bearer of the power and they are to decide who is going to exercise government power. It is the only way to raise the level of accountability of government.