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Yerevan Mayoral Election Could Be The Most Shameful Election Ever
Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov is the head of the Republican
campaign headquarters, so he, as well as the head of the Central
Electoral Commission is responsible for the shameful conduct of the
local election.
Most probably, a decision was made to return to the tough methods
after the presidential election when Raffi Hovannisian unexpectedly
received 37%, and Serzh Sargsyan lost the election in a number of
towns.
After the parliamentary election the RPA had to give up the method of
vote buying through their local representatives because the
representatives either misappropriated the money or the voters
accepted the money but voted for others. They tried to get back the
money from their local representatives.
During the presidential election a `civilized' money method was used.
They gave money to people who stuffed ballots. However, this tactics
was not effective either because in most polling stations the proxies,
observers, even members of commissions did not allow ballot stuffing.
Now they have apparently decided to reapply the good old method of
buying a vote at the entry of the polling station on the condition
that the voter proves which candidate he or she voted for.
Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center has made a map of
violations, and the map is already covered with tags. TI has been
active in Armenia. Videos were produced which display the nature of
corrupt property of Armenian officials. It has even applied to the
Prosecutor General's Office demanding to check the legality of the
property of the head of SRC Gagik Khachatryan. Before the election
this organization collected signatures for a petition to publish
voters' lists after the elections. After the elections TI and some of
its partners will dispute the results of elections.
This election could be the most shameful election in the history of
Armenia. Hundreds of reports of electoral fraud have been received
since morning. In the result, however, it will become known that the
irregularities have not affected the final outcome.
Naira Hayrumyan
16:53 05/05/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/country/view/29790
Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov is the head of the Republican
campaign headquarters, so he, as well as the head of the Central
Electoral Commission is responsible for the shameful conduct of the
local election.
Most probably, a decision was made to return to the tough methods
after the presidential election when Raffi Hovannisian unexpectedly
received 37%, and Serzh Sargsyan lost the election in a number of
towns.
After the parliamentary election the RPA had to give up the method of
vote buying through their local representatives because the
representatives either misappropriated the money or the voters
accepted the money but voted for others. They tried to get back the
money from their local representatives.
During the presidential election a `civilized' money method was used.
They gave money to people who stuffed ballots. However, this tactics
was not effective either because in most polling stations the proxies,
observers, even members of commissions did not allow ballot stuffing.
Now they have apparently decided to reapply the good old method of
buying a vote at the entry of the polling station on the condition
that the voter proves which candidate he or she voted for.
Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center has made a map of
violations, and the map is already covered with tags. TI has been
active in Armenia. Videos were produced which display the nature of
corrupt property of Armenian officials. It has even applied to the
Prosecutor General's Office demanding to check the legality of the
property of the head of SRC Gagik Khachatryan. Before the election
this organization collected signatures for a petition to publish
voters' lists after the elections. After the elections TI and some of
its partners will dispute the results of elections.
This election could be the most shameful election in the history of
Armenia. Hundreds of reports of electoral fraud have been received
since morning. In the result, however, it will become known that the
irregularities have not affected the final outcome.
Naira Hayrumyan
16:53 05/05/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/country/view/29790