February 21, 2017 - 15:44 AMT
ODIHR starts observation mission for Armenia parliamentary elections

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on Monday, February 20 launched its observation mission for the Armenian parliamentary elections, slated for April 2.

Speaking to reporters in Yerevan, mission chief Jan Petersen thanked the Armenian authorities for the invitation to observe the elections.

“We hope to collaborate with the authorities, the parties and the civil society and are sure to have open and transparent activity,” Panorama.am cited him as saying.

Petersen said the ODIHR’s Yerevan team is currently comprised of 14 experts from 13 countries who will be addressing issues and topics to later reflect upon them in their reports.

28 long-term observers will join the team in the Armenian capital in the coming days to be deployed throughout the country, he said.

Closer to the election day, 250 short-term observers will arrive in the country.

Four parties and five party alliances will run for the parliament.