Four hours after voting began in the parliamentary elections, several election observation missions released information on irregularities recorded at polling stations.

The Fair Vote observation mission reported that actions obstructing an observer’s work and attempts at pressure were recorded at polling station 22/32 in the Lori region community of Gyulagarak. According to the mission, an authorized representative of one of the parties present at the station was directing voters. After the observer raised the issue, attempts were made to pressure the observer, and statements were made that efforts would be undertaken to have the observer removed from the polling station, reports Panorama.am .

According to the mission, the chairperson of the precinct election commission did not take sufficient steps to resolve the situation. The issue also remained unresolved after intervention by commission members, after which the authorized representative began arguing loudly and shouting at the commission chair.

The Hayakve observation mission reported that representatives of the military police were present at polling station 23/58, where military personnel vote, without observing the legally required 50-meter distance.

According to the same mission, a citizen arrived to vote at polling station 25/08 but it was discovered that a signature had already been entered in his or her place.

The Akanates observation initiative reported five significant incidents.

At polling station 7/6, the commission chair refused an observer’s request to record in the official logbook concerns about a risk to ballot secrecy. According to the observer, the location of the voting booth made activities inside potentially visible.

At polling station 8/61, a request by an observer to record concerns related to the arrangement of the voting room was also rejected. According to the observer, restrooms located behind the voting booths created movement through that area that could jeopardize ballot secrecy.

At polling station 8/38, the election center did not open until 7:18 a.m. because of the delayed arrival of the commission chair, and entry was not permitted during that period.

At polling station 14/6, a risk to ballot secrecy was recorded because a curtain located behind the voting booths could have been opened at any time. According to the observer, no corrective measures were taken after the issue was raised, although the observation was entered into the commission’s logbook.

At polling station 4/54, a problem was recorded involving the secure storage safe, which remained open as of 6:55 a.m., before the official start of preparatory procedures.

Regular National Assembly elections are underway in Armenia. The country’s 2,005 polling stations opened at 8:00 a.m. The voter registry includes 2,485,851 registered voters. Polling stations will remain open until 8:00 p.m.

A total of 18 political forces are participating in the parliamentary elections: two electoral alliances and 16 political parties. The electoral threshold is 4% for parties and 8% for alliances.