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HELSINKI COMMITTEE PREZ - "JUST A BALLOT, NOT AN ELECTION"
Sona Avagyan
http://hetq.am/eng/news/22822/helsinki-committee-prez---just-a-ballot-not-an-election.html
14:42, January 30, 2013
Helsinki Committee President Avetik Ishkhanyan told reporters today
in Yerevan that what will be taking place on February 18 will merely
be a ballot procedure and not an election.
In other words, voters will be casting their ballots in a meaningless
process.
Ishkhanyan said that while he respected the candidates running against
the incumbent Sargsyan, none had the human or financial resources to
staff the election precincts with an adequate number of monitors.
He likened the situation in Armenia as differing both from democratic
countries and dictatorial ones.
The fact that what will take place on February 18 is purely a ballot,
not a true election, reminds one of the situation in authoritarian
regimes. On the other hand, in authoritarian countries, any possibility
of freedom of speech and assembly is ruled out, which isn't the case
in Armenia.
Ishkhanyan placed a part of the blame on the fact that political
parties in Armenia haven't fully developed and that the private
business sector is also not totally free.
From: A. Papazian
Sona Avagyan
http://hetq.am/eng/news/22822/helsinki-committee-prez---just-a-ballot-not-an-election.html
14:42, January 30, 2013
Helsinki Committee President Avetik Ishkhanyan told reporters today
in Yerevan that what will be taking place on February 18 will merely
be a ballot procedure and not an election.
In other words, voters will be casting their ballots in a meaningless
process.
Ishkhanyan said that while he respected the candidates running against
the incumbent Sargsyan, none had the human or financial resources to
staff the election precincts with an adequate number of monitors.
He likened the situation in Armenia as differing both from democratic
countries and dictatorial ones.
The fact that what will take place on February 18 is purely a ballot,
not a true election, reminds one of the situation in authoritarian
regimes. On the other hand, in authoritarian countries, any possibility
of freedom of speech and assembly is ruled out, which isn't the case
in Armenia.
Ishkhanyan placed a part of the blame on the fact that political
parties in Armenia haven't fully developed and that the private
business sector is also not totally free.
From: A. Papazian