2 million 320 thousand 375 Armenian citizens may participate in presidential election

PanARMENIAN.Net - According to refined data, 2 million 320 thousand 375 citizens of Armenia, may participate in the presidential election on February 19, Deputy Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) Harutyun Shahbazyan stated in Yerevan today. The electors' lists will be finally specified on February 16, according to him.



On the election day, the same ballot-boxes and polling-booths as during the parliamentary elections of 2007 will be used. In all the 1923 polling stations, posters with the biographies of all the 9 candidates and a specimen of a voting ballot will be posted up.



27 PACE observers will be in Armenia February 18-20.



Most of the polling stations are not convenient for disabled voters, who number 158 thousand in Armenia, 100 thousand being entitled to vote.



New Times party announced support to presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Orinats Yerkir party leader Artur Baghdassaryan is also reported to hold talks on unification with Ter-Petrosyan.



Meanwhile, the OSCE/ODIHR Observation Mission report says that "unlike other candidates, Levon Ter-Petrosyan frequently directed derogatory comments at the authorities".



"The campaign rhetoric has at times been acrimonious. Eight candidates held campaign rallies. Most passed off peacefully, but unrest occurred at two of Levon Ter-Petrosyan's events. The OSCE/ODIHR EOM is aware of five incidents in which party or candidate premises have been damaged", the document reads, elections2008.am reports.