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ARMENIANS 'PRESSURED TO ATTEND RULING PARTY RALLIES'
Tigran Avetisian
http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/24562847.html
27.04.2012
Schoolchildren, teachers and other public-sector employees have been
pressured to attend election campaign rallies held by the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), observers from the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe said on Friday.
In an interim report, the election observation mission deployed
by the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
(ODIHR) said its members have witnessed such instances in at least
two parts of the country since the start of campaigning for the May
6 parliamentary elections.
"While Article 18.6 of the Electoral Code prohibits campaigning
and distribution of campaign material by pedagogical staff and in
educational institutions, OSCE/ODIHR long-term observers (LTOs)
reported a number of cases of teachers and students involved in the
HHK campaign," reads the report.
"In Echmiadzin, on 11 April students and teachers were released from
school to attend an HHK rally," it says. "On 14 April in Arabkir (a
district of Yerevan), teachers asked students to attend, after classes,
an HHK rally with President [Serzh] Sarkisian. LTOs observed HHK
majoritarian candidates (constituencies 19 and 21, Armavir province)
campaigning in schools with students and teachers present."
According to Armenian media reports, the practice has been the norm
across the country during both the current and previous election
campaigns. HHK representatives insist, however, that Armenians
willingly attend campaign gatherings featuring speeches by Sarkisian.
The OSCE/ODIHR mission also cited other instances of "the use
of administrative resources" by the ruling party, including the
announcement by an ambulance of an HHK rally in the southeastern town
of Kapan. "OSCE/ODIHR LTOs also noted staff from the local tax office
discussing that they had been released early from work on condition
that they attended an HHK rally in Talin (Aragatsotn province) on 20
April," it said.
Also catching the mission's attention was the distribution of tractors
by Gagik Tsarukian, a wealthy businessman leading the Prosperous
Armenia Party (BHK), a member of the governing coalition.
BHK critics have denounced the practice as a form of vote buying
banned by the Electoral Code. Tsarukian aides deny any connection
with the BHK campaign.
The OSCE observers believe, however, the tractors have appeared in
at least six Armenian provinces "de facto as part of the party's
campaign." "According to a Prosperous Armenia brochure, the party
attached importance to the creation of tractor stations in all
provinces," they noted.
The mission was otherwise generally satisfied with the course of the
campaign so far. "Contestants are generally able to campaign and have
been provided with free venues and poster space," says its report. It
also praises the Central Election Commission and its territorial
divisions for working "in an open and transparent manner."
The OSCE/ODIHR mission is the largest international team to observe
and assess the conduct of the upcoming elections. It is due to have
about 300 members by polling day.
Tigran Avetisian
http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/24562847.html
27.04.2012
Schoolchildren, teachers and other public-sector employees have been
pressured to attend election campaign rallies held by the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), observers from the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe said on Friday.
In an interim report, the election observation mission deployed
by the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
(ODIHR) said its members have witnessed such instances in at least
two parts of the country since the start of campaigning for the May
6 parliamentary elections.
"While Article 18.6 of the Electoral Code prohibits campaigning
and distribution of campaign material by pedagogical staff and in
educational institutions, OSCE/ODIHR long-term observers (LTOs)
reported a number of cases of teachers and students involved in the
HHK campaign," reads the report.
"In Echmiadzin, on 11 April students and teachers were released from
school to attend an HHK rally," it says. "On 14 April in Arabkir (a
district of Yerevan), teachers asked students to attend, after classes,
an HHK rally with President [Serzh] Sarkisian. LTOs observed HHK
majoritarian candidates (constituencies 19 and 21, Armavir province)
campaigning in schools with students and teachers present."
According to Armenian media reports, the practice has been the norm
across the country during both the current and previous election
campaigns. HHK representatives insist, however, that Armenians
willingly attend campaign gatherings featuring speeches by Sarkisian.
The OSCE/ODIHR mission also cited other instances of "the use
of administrative resources" by the ruling party, including the
announcement by an ambulance of an HHK rally in the southeastern town
of Kapan. "OSCE/ODIHR LTOs also noted staff from the local tax office
discussing that they had been released early from work on condition
that they attended an HHK rally in Talin (Aragatsotn province) on 20
April," it said.
Also catching the mission's attention was the distribution of tractors
by Gagik Tsarukian, a wealthy businessman leading the Prosperous
Armenia Party (BHK), a member of the governing coalition.
BHK critics have denounced the practice as a form of vote buying
banned by the Electoral Code. Tsarukian aides deny any connection
with the BHK campaign.
The OSCE observers believe, however, the tractors have appeared in
at least six Armenian provinces "de facto as part of the party's
campaign." "According to a Prosperous Armenia brochure, the party
attached importance to the creation of tractor stations in all
provinces," they noted.
The mission was otherwise generally satisfied with the course of the
campaign so far. "Contestants are generally able to campaign and have
been provided with free venues and poster space," says its report. It
also praises the Central Election Commission and its territorial
divisions for working "in an open and transparent manner."
The OSCE/ODIHR mission is the largest international team to observe
and assess the conduct of the upcoming elections. It is due to have
about 300 members by polling day.