Peaceful voting day, but main opposition alliance significantly involved in electoral violations
Summary of Akanates press conference, video recording of press conference with English interpretation below: The Akanates observation mission stated that the voting process was peaceful and well organized with no serious violations that would impact the election results. Although the pre-election campaign was quite fierce, these elections were generally in the hands of Armenian citizens. […]
Pre-Election Day findings – Akanates mission
Summary of Akanates press conference, video recording of press conference with English interpretation below: Campaigning and transparency of finances The Akanates observation mission, which includes EPDE member Transparency International Anticorruption Center, notes that party campaign spending during early election campaigning is insufficiently regulated by the Electoral Code and that parties’ reports on their spending […]
Reflections on the election campaign and predictions for E-Day
During a live discussion hosted by EPDE, leading Armenian political analysts reflect on the election campaign, what choice voters are faced with, and what the likely scenarios for these elections may be. This election is remarkable for its competitiveness. It is clear that the main contenders of the election are incumbent, Nikol Pashinyan, and his main opponent, Robert […]
Misuse of administrative resources on all sides and tense environment affects public discourse
Summary of the Independent Observer alliance press conference, video recording of press conference with English interpretation below: The Independent Observer alliance, to which EPDE member Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor belongs, reported that these elections are unique in that misuse of administrative resources was prevalent not only among the ruling party, but also among the opposition. In […]
OPORA Launches ‘GNDEM Talk’ – a program on Democracy in the World
OPORA launched a special monthly online show, ‘GNDEM Talk’, on electoral processes and democracy in the world. Civil Network OPORA and the EPDE are both members of the Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM). The focus is on electoral conflicts, security, e-voting, effects of the pandemic, disinformation, and modern technologies for public voting, looking at […]
Preliminary report snap parliamentary elections
The Akanates (Eyewitness) is a domestic, non-partisan observation initiative founded in 2018 by Transparency International Anticorruption Center, Journalists’ Club Asparez, “Restart” Scientific and Educational Foundation and Law Development and Protection Foundation. More about the network and their observation methodology here. In this preliminary report the Akanates observation mission observed preparations of CECs, TECs, PECs, generally […]
Roundtable summary: ‘Threats to Election Day – evaluation of election preparations and security concerns’
The European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) hosted its fourth closed expert roundtable discussing issues that might pose a threat to the upcoming snap parliamentary elections. Immediate concerns include the post-war security situation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the short term for organizing the elections. Despite these threats, Armenia is currently facing an important milestone in […]
Third interim report early parliamentary elections
The Promo-LEX observation mission identifies an increasing number of issues in the organization and conduct of the election campaign for the early Parliamentary Elections of 11 July 2021. Observers criticize the CEC’s decision on setting up too few polling stations abroad and for not following the legal criteria provided for this in the Electoral Code. […]
Observers condemn CEC decision on setting up polling stations abroad
The Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections condemns the illegal and irresponsible decision of the Central Electoral Commission to open only 139 polling stations abroad for the early Parliamentary Elections of 11 July 2021. The Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections requests CEC to: urgently amend Decision No 4966 of 5 June 2021 on the establishment […]
Roundtable summary: ‘Political party landscape and campaign messaging’
The European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) hosted its third closed expert roundtable, during which leading Armenian political commentators and experts analyzed the main political actors in the current election campaign, their campaign messaging, and what their chances are in the upcoming elections. The election results are not easily predictable, while the election campaign is […]