Criminal Factions Are Largely Involved in Elections

In reference to the aftermath of  previous elections, Artur Sakunts, Head of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office, revealed the main methods of election fraud during discussions on “Amendments to RA Electoral Code” initiated by the “Partnership for Open Society” Initiative. 

According to Sakunts, electoral violations are carried out by the use of “administrative resources, including the police and armed forces”.  “Criminal factions and administrative resources were involved in the previous elections”. A second group of electoral violations was applied acts of terrorism against voters and candidates including various forms of pressure and bribery. The third group of violations was a lack of freedom of speech and expression of opinion. “It not only hinders voters from voting for their preferred candidates or proposed projects, but also exerts pressures on mass media by terrorizing or applying encroachments against journalists”, emphasized Sakunts. According to the Human Rights’ Activist, multiple voting by groups as well as by “dead and emigrated” persons was widely used in election frauds.

Sakunts believes that electoral violations are recorded, but no effective mechanism functions in the country.  The Constitutional Court, with its resolution after the 2003 presidential elections, attested to the role of the Judiciary in Armenia.

www.1in.am