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ICES OBSERVERS SAY ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WAS DEMOCRATIC
Interfax, Russia
Feb 19 2013
The observation mission of the International Expert Center for
Electoral Systems (ICES) has described Armenia's February 18
presidential election as legitimate.
"The presidential elections in Armenia were legitimate. They complied
with democratic standards," ICES mission head Alexander Tsinker
told journalists.
The observers, however, detected a number of shortcomings, he said.
"They concern problems surrounding the conditions at several polling
stations," he said.
The elections were competitive, he said.
"The election obeyed all fundamental principles that allowed people
to freely express their will," Tsinker said.
"No acts capable of damaging the electoral process were registered.
Irregularities detected by us are insignificant and cannot impact
the election outcome," he said.
A preliminary tally gives 58.64% of the vote to incumbent President
Serzh Sargsyan, who seeks re-election, and 36.75% to his closest
rival - ex-foreign minister and Heritage opposition party leader Raffi
Hovannisian, the Armenian Central Election Commission has reported.
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Interfax, Russia
Feb 19 2013
The observation mission of the International Expert Center for
Electoral Systems (ICES) has described Armenia's February 18
presidential election as legitimate.
"The presidential elections in Armenia were legitimate. They complied
with democratic standards," ICES mission head Alexander Tsinker
told journalists.
The observers, however, detected a number of shortcomings, he said.
"They concern problems surrounding the conditions at several polling
stations," he said.
The elections were competitive, he said.
"The election obeyed all fundamental principles that allowed people
to freely express their will," Tsinker said.
"No acts capable of damaging the electoral process were registered.
Irregularities detected by us are insignificant and cannot impact
the election outcome," he said.
A preliminary tally gives 58.64% of the vote to incumbent President
Serzh Sargsyan, who seeks re-election, and 36.75% to his closest
rival - ex-foreign minister and Heritage opposition party leader Raffi
Hovannisian, the Armenian Central Election Commission has reported.
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