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«The Choice is yours», the largest, local organization implementing long-term observation in the forthcoming parliamentary elections, has recorded «ambiguous» and «disturbing» facts while studying the election lists.

While presenting the results of their monitoring today, Harutyun Hambardzumyan, the head of the organization, spoke about the issue of the registration of: hundreds of people at the same address, streets with unknown names and exaggerated addresses.

He pointed to several examples. For example, the address called Kanaker compared to previous elections the number of voters has increased by 211 and according to Hambardzumyan, 40 of those listed have just turned 18. An increase of 171 names is doubtful. Also, the buildings on Khachatryan Street end in 33 but there is an address on Khachatryan Street listed as 123 in the election lists.

There are streets listed, which are unfamiliar. For example, in the election lists of District 12/11 ,the church yard is listed with 22 voters, Airport Street with 50 voters, the Oil base, Halt 8th km and others. Hambardzumyan went on to say that  there are many other examples».

The head of the organization implementing the observation considers the registration of hundreds of people at the same address a result of the imperfection of the law, repeating that according to  a decision of the government, owners can register any number of people in their flats.

In general, Hambardzumyan is satisfied with the campaign and considers that up until now, it has run «in a significantly balanced, quiet and free atmosphere».

«In comparison with the previous elections, they did not observe cases of mass deterrent of campaigns, unnecessary police interference, imposing obvious pressure on the voters, or any interference of district authorities in the election processes, except for a small number of  local characterincidents.  . The mass media remained mainly neutral said the monitoring organization, which is called, «The choice is yours».

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office, another organization implementing observation agrees that «much has changed in comparison with the previous elections». In a conversation with us, Artur Sakunts, Chairman of the organization, commented that illegalities are more discreet. The organization is concerned in particular by the «facts of unaccountable use of administrative resources» by the governing Republican Party.

Artur Sakunts also emphasized that although law enforcement bodies react to all alerts an equal evaluation of what has happened is not given.
Helsinki Association, which was not officially recognized as an observer, monitors the campaign by means of observer-reporters, and feels certain that «nothing has changed in this country».

Head of the Association Michael Danielyan, in a conversation with «Azatutyun» Radio Station, reminds that the campaign began with violations towards some candidates and feels that it certainty caused an atmosphere of fear and the whole campaign of the opposition ran on that atmosphere.

«This happened in the beginning and it frightened people.. Now the nation is scared. Fear is a normal state of a dictator led country, », – announced Danielyan.

At District N 11 while monitoring opposition candidate, Arshak Banuchyan distributing campaign materials Arman Veziryan, a Helsinki Association observer, was subject to harm. According to Veziryan, an older man cursed him, approached him, and hit him twice. Arman suffered contusions and abrasions around his eye and the police are currently conducting an investigation of the incident.  .

Source: http://www.azatutyun.am