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MAY 5 ELECTIONS FAIL TO MEET DEMOCRATIC STANDARDS - HELSINKI COMMITTEE OF ARMENIA CHAIRMAN
17:07 ~U 06.05.13
Avetik Ishkhanian, Chairman of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia,
which observed the elections to Yerevan's Council of Elders, held a
meeting with journalists at the Media Center on Monday.
He reported crowds of people and buses bringing people, who were later
"guided" in voting, while the police remained neutral.
"Observers were under pressure, and numerous instances of unknown
people present at polling stations were reported. They turned out
to be two or three representatives of one party. After talking to a
number of other observation missions, we realized that observation
missions were employed on a larger-scale," Ishkhanian said.
A number of NGOs overtly worked in favor of the ruling Republican Party
of Armenia (RPA). "The elections do not at all meet the democratic
standards," he said.
Representatives of a number of NGOs that observed the election process
were present at the press conference and largely shared Ishkhanian's
opinion.
Sona Aivazyan, Head of the Transparency International anti-corruption
center, noted that "disgraceful elections have once again been reported
in Armenia."
Artak Kirakosyan, Head of the Civil Society Institute, views the
elections from the gender aspect.
"It was a competition between 'guys of the neighborhood' and 'girls
of the city'," he said.
Armenian News - Tert.am
17:07 ~U 06.05.13
Avetik Ishkhanian, Chairman of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia,
which observed the elections to Yerevan's Council of Elders, held a
meeting with journalists at the Media Center on Monday.
He reported crowds of people and buses bringing people, who were later
"guided" in voting, while the police remained neutral.
"Observers were under pressure, and numerous instances of unknown
people present at polling stations were reported. They turned out
to be two or three representatives of one party. After talking to a
number of other observation missions, we realized that observation
missions were employed on a larger-scale," Ishkhanian said.
A number of NGOs overtly worked in favor of the ruling Republican Party
of Armenia (RPA). "The elections do not at all meet the democratic
standards," he said.
Representatives of a number of NGOs that observed the election process
were present at the press conference and largely shared Ishkhanian's
opinion.
Sona Aivazyan, Head of the Transparency International anti-corruption
center, noted that "disgraceful elections have once again been reported
in Armenia."
Artak Kirakosyan, Head of the Civil Society Institute, views the
elections from the gender aspect.
"It was a competition between 'guys of the neighborhood' and 'girls
of the city'," he said.
Armenian News - Tert.am