Representatives
of non-governmental organizations that have implemented monitoring of Yerevan
municipal elections on 6 May at the Media Center declared that the elections have
not met international standards. Administrative resources were abused during
campaigning, and on the day of elections almost in all precinct stations there
were violations including, crowded polls inside and outside, up to 50 meters
surrounding the stations, interference and prevention of work of observers and
journalists, psychological pressure, presence of non-authorized persons at and
in front of precinct stations, leading voters to the boxes, and other.

Civil Society Institute’s Board
Chairman Artak Kirakosyan stated that elections were held in a tense and competitive atmosphere.
“Inside and outside of precinct stations, individuals and groups of people put
a pressure on the elections participants. Those who pressured were presenting
themselves partly as Armenian Republican Party (ANP) proxies, as well as
representatives of different observation missions”, he said. He also mentioned
that direct and indirect (through creation of atmosphere of fear) obstacles
were put to prevent the work of journalists and observers, when they did photo
and video recording.

According
to Kirakosyan, the vote counting has begun in a nervous and tense atmosphere
and was smoothed out only after the data started to show that the ANP is
winning. “The results of elections can be finally evaluated after the
complaints are submitted and proceeded and after studying the final decisions”,
says CSI Board Chairman. And for now, as he described it, “it was a struggle
between the district boys and city girls”.

Chairman of Armenian Helsinki
Committee AvetikIshkhanyan declared that political parties used observation missions to lead
people on the election day. According to him, organizations such as “Erebuni”
Center for Community Development, “Center for Economic and Social Rights”,
“Life” –international association on human rights, politics and humanitarian
issues, worked for the benefit of the Armenian Republican Party. “There was no
any difference between activities of these organizations’ observers and party proxies,
and they constantly were replacing their badges, to present themselves proxies in
some instances and then observers in other cases”, mentioned AvetikIshkhanyan.

“At the presidential elections, the
authorities were confident in winning, and they then became surprised with the
outcomes of the elections. During this period they worked seriously and used
administrative resources as much as they could, and as a result of such a work,
TaronMargaryan won SerzhSargsyan in Yerevan”, concluded the Chairman of the
Armenian Helsinki Association.

Chairwoman of Transparency
International Anti-Corruption Center SonaAyvazyanstated that in Armenia, as usual,
disgraceful elections took place.

“Every
time we wonder how numerous and diverse violationscan be. From the first moment
in the morning the violations of the rights of journalists and observers has
been registered. There were obstacles put in front of our observers regarding
video recording, threats, swearing, psychological pressure were used. During
the whole process there was intense atmosphere in the majority of precinct
stations”, concluding observation results, stated SonaAyvazyan.

According
to her, at some precinct stations, the “district authorities” simply ruled. “Even
NP deputies were involved, such as SamvelAlexanyan who could come and shout at
his gang’s representatives…”

Transparency International and
Citizen Observer program’s another three organizations registered cases of
using “carousel”, voting with colored pens, overcrowding, bringing voters by
transport means, numerous voting by the same persons, discrepancy in the voting
lists and other.

“The elections are assessed as bad,
it seems that we do not make any progress”, says SonaAyvazyan and adds that the
violations registered by them were reported to the law enforcement bodies and
they will follow the proceeding of these cases.

Coordinator of the iDitord.org site
SamvelMartirosyanmentioned
that on their site at that moment 417 violations were registered, the big part
of which were put by citizens on the election day. According to him, there was almost
every possible violation, except for stealing ballot boxes. The big portion of information
on violations came from MalatiaSebastia and Erebuni administrative districts.

Chairman of Harmonia
non-governmental organization Eduard Ghudruntsgave a short description to the
elections as “controlled democratic elections”. Chairwoman of Armavir
Development Center Naira Arakelyan raised a question on why observers
cannot also protest against violations, in addition to just registering them.

Chairwoman of “Ability and Development for Civil
Society” NGO agreed to the assessments given
at the press- conference and noted that as regular they were convinced that
there is no way of changing the Armenian government through elections.