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Armenian Bar Association's Statement on Yerevan Municipal Elections
14:20, May 9, 2013
The Armenian Bar Association closely followed the events leading up to
and culminating in Yerevan 's May 5, 2013 municipal elections. We did
so with the hope that the lessons of the previous parliamentary and
presidential elections would be both redeeming examples of
conformities with, as well as cautionary precedents of violations of,
free and fair elections.
With renewed concern, we are led to conclude that this week's
compromise of the citizenry's rights with respect to the rule of law
and notions of fair play and substantial justice in the electoral
process were as egregious, if not more, than the serious challenges to
voters' constitutional rights which were experienced during the
February 2013 presidential election and the May 2012 parliamentary
elections.
We regret that those who hold power in Armenia did not embrace these
most recent elections as an opportunity to break with the past and to
honor their basic responsibilities by providing a free and democratic
way for residents of Yerevan to choose their government.
The enormity and great number of violations based upon credible
sources include ballot stuffing, bribery, voter intimidation, forged
signatures on voter lists, use of physical force and, significantly, a
Central Election Commission which is not subject to an independent
review process and which lacks accountability. See, for example:
http://armdex.com/elections2013/map/, www.civilnet.am, www.a1plus.am,
www.hetq.am, www.armenianow.com.
The sheer number and consistency of grave violations recorded and
widely-reported by virtually every monitoring group provide
substantial justification to express deep disappointment about the
utter disregard of the civil rights of the citizens of Armenia
generally and specifically of the residents of the beloved capital of
our Armenian homeland -- Yerevan.
The Armenian Bar Association calls for an independent and transparent
investigation of election-related human and civil rights violations in
order to ensure and instill confidence, for the country's citizens and
for those outside Armenia , that the government reflects the free
expression of the will of its people.
The Armenian Bar Association will continue to lend its institutional
support to the advancement of the rule of law and the serious work of
building democracy in Armenia .
In that respect, we call upon all diasporan and concerned
organizations and individuals, and most certainly the governing
authorities of the Republic of Armenia , to join together as we strive
to make Armenia a truly democratic republic and homeland.
ARMENIAN BAR ASSOCIATION
May 8, 2013
http://hetq.am/eng/news/26367/armenian-bar-associations-statement-on-yerevan-municipal-elections.html
14:20, May 9, 2013
The Armenian Bar Association closely followed the events leading up to
and culminating in Yerevan 's May 5, 2013 municipal elections. We did
so with the hope that the lessons of the previous parliamentary and
presidential elections would be both redeeming examples of
conformities with, as well as cautionary precedents of violations of,
free and fair elections.
With renewed concern, we are led to conclude that this week's
compromise of the citizenry's rights with respect to the rule of law
and notions of fair play and substantial justice in the electoral
process were as egregious, if not more, than the serious challenges to
voters' constitutional rights which were experienced during the
February 2013 presidential election and the May 2012 parliamentary
elections.
We regret that those who hold power in Armenia did not embrace these
most recent elections as an opportunity to break with the past and to
honor their basic responsibilities by providing a free and democratic
way for residents of Yerevan to choose their government.
The enormity and great number of violations based upon credible
sources include ballot stuffing, bribery, voter intimidation, forged
signatures on voter lists, use of physical force and, significantly, a
Central Election Commission which is not subject to an independent
review process and which lacks accountability. See, for example:
http://armdex.com/elections2013/map/, www.civilnet.am, www.a1plus.am,
www.hetq.am, www.armenianow.com.
The sheer number and consistency of grave violations recorded and
widely-reported by virtually every monitoring group provide
substantial justification to express deep disappointment about the
utter disregard of the civil rights of the citizens of Armenia
generally and specifically of the residents of the beloved capital of
our Armenian homeland -- Yerevan.
The Armenian Bar Association calls for an independent and transparent
investigation of election-related human and civil rights violations in
order to ensure and instill confidence, for the country's citizens and
for those outside Armenia , that the government reflects the free
expression of the will of its people.
The Armenian Bar Association will continue to lend its institutional
support to the advancement of the rule of law and the serious work of
building democracy in Armenia .
In that respect, we call upon all diasporan and concerned
organizations and individuals, and most certainly the governing
authorities of the Republic of Armenia , to join together as we strive
to make Armenia a truly democratic republic and homeland.
ARMENIAN BAR ASSOCIATION
May 8, 2013
http://hetq.am/eng/news/26367/armenian-bar-associations-statement-on-yerevan-municipal-elections.html