AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CRITICIZES ELECTION IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net - Having abolished the death penalty in peacetime, Armenia fulfilled its commitment to the Council of Europe. However, although in December 2003 Armenia passed a law on alternative military service to meet another commitment, young men, who had refused to serve due to religious considerations, continue being kept in prisons, says Amnesty International Report 2004. "Besides, Armenian authorities have arrested some 100 protesters who participated in peaceful demonstrations of the opposition, which disputed the returns of the presidential election of 2003," the document notes. Having summed up the reports of international organizations and independent observers, Amnesty International notes that in March incumbent President Kocharian won presidential elections that were marred by "widespread voting irregularities." The report says that following international criticism, the President acknowledged that the elections had fallen short of international standards and set up a commission of inquiry to investigate reported irregularities. Nevertheless, parliamentary elections in May were held on the same scenario and parties that supported the President won a large majority in the Parliament, Amnesty International notes.