Man charged with murder re-elected mayor

Oct. 10, 2005
Monterey Herald
Associated Press

YEREVAN, Armenia - The mayor of a small Armenian town jailed on murder charges was re-elected to his post, election officials said Monday.

Armen Keshishian, the mayor of Nor-Achin about six miles east of the capital, Yerevan, has been charged in the Sept. 24 shooting death of Ashot Mkhitarian, the head of a local electric utility. The pistol that allegedly killed the utility chief had been presented to Keshishian by Prime Minister Andranik Markarian, according to the prime minister's spokeswoman, Mary Arutunian.

Firearms are considered a treasured gift in the Caucasus. Although their sale is forbidden in Armenia, the president and prime minister are empowered to present people with weapons.

Since becoming prime minister in 2000, Markarian has presented 589 people with guns, which police officials say have been used in three murders and a number of attempted murders. Arutunian said law enforcement bodies were now checking a number of people whom Markarian plans to present with guns, to make sure they would not use them for criminal purposes.

With the election victory, Keshishian will govern his town from behind bars pending trial. If he is convicted, he will lose his post.

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