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The RA Administrative Court accepted HCA Vanadzor’s claim against the RA Central Electoral Commission. By its claim, the Organization required to compel the RA CEC to provide a proper response to its application-suggestion of March 30, 2017.

HCA Vanadzor submitted regular suggestions to the RA Central Electoral Commission on initiating administrative proceedings on the violations committed during the April 2, 2017 RA NA election campaign. The Commission viewed such suggestions as applications and refused to initiate any proceedings. The CEC explained its decisions by the fact that there were no direct violations of the Organization’s rights and the latter was not entitled to file such applications.

Whereas the RA citizens’ right to submit suggestions is laid down in Article 53 of the RA Constitution and laws and accordingly, the Central Electoral Commission is obliged to provide a legal and well-grounded response.

HCA Vanadzor also filed a similar application and suggestion on a publication in a news website called ‘Goris Media Group’ of March 26, 2017. The publication mentioned that a group of students of Goris State University expressed their thanks to parliamentary election candidate Arush Arushanyan for sponsoring their visits to Garni pagan temple and Geghard Monastery and their wish for his victory in the coming elections. Given the violation of the provisions of Article 19 of the RA Electoral Code setting the main principles of election campaign, on March 19, 2017 HCA Vanadzor applied to the RA CEC to initiate administrative proceedings based on the publication and apply to the RA Administrative Court.

At its special session of April 8, 2017, the RA Central Electoral Commission rejected initiation of the administrative proceedings on the same pretext. The RA CEC provided no other response to HCA Vanadzor.

The RA Administrative Court scheduled examination of the claim for June 30, 2017, 10 am.