0 8000 12 11

According to Article 39(2) of the RA Electoral Code, community council members, inter alia, may not be members of territorial and precinct electoral commissions. The regulation above also applies to territorial and precinct referendum commissions. Upon an alert by a Heritage (Zharangutyun) Party representative, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor examined the composition of every precinct electoral commission and found that such commissions included a total of 203 community council members, with 18 – in Aragatsotn, 30 – in Ararat, 7 – in Armavir, 32 – in Gegharkunik, 22 – in Lori, 17 – in Kotayk, 38 – in Shirak, 17 – in Syunik, 14 – in Vayots Dzor and 8 – in Tavush. Also, 83 of such community council members are presented by relevant precinct electoral commissions, 50 – by the Republican Party of Armenia, 22 – by Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), 21 – by Prosperous Armenia (Bargavatch Hayastan) Party, 12 – by Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) Party, 10 – by the Armenian National Congress (ANC) and 5 – by Heritage (Zharangutyun) Party.

The Table attached hereby provides more detailed information on marz (regional) distribution.

It should be noted that the representative of Heritage Party provided the findings of studies in Lori, Shirak, Tavush and Gegharkunik marzes (regions) where they found another 5 members appointed by Heritage Party, whom they replaced immediately, before the study carried out by HCA Vanadzor.

This information, with data of relevant persons attached, was submitted to the RA Central Electoral Commission with the requirement to eliminate violation of the RA Electoral Code.

The study has also revealed a large number of commission members, especially presented by the Republican Party, who are close relatives (sister, brother, father, mother) of the council members of relevant communities. While this issue is not regulated by law, it clearly constitutes a conflict of interests and can turn into a great leverage of influence especially in small communities.