PACE Delegation to Issue Two Reports on Constitutional Referendum

PanARMENIAN.Net - Over the limited number of the international delegation the observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities did not manage to attend all the polling stations. As they stated during today's briefing, in the majority of the polling stations visited the conduct of the poll was in compliance with international standards. However the observers voiced regret that violations were fixed in some constituencies in Armavir, Aragatsotn, Tavush regions and especially in Yerevan. Besides, the observers rated the opposition's stand as expression of double standards, since despite the declared boycott the opposition representatives were absent not from all the polling stations. In the words of one of the observers, he has attended 15 polling stations. In 14 of them the process could arouse pride, however violations were fixed in one constituency.



"These violations are certainly not enough to declare the returns invalid, however I hope that the Armenian CEC will investigate thoroughly all the allegations brought to its attention and that all the necessary measures will be taken against those responsible for fraud", PACE delegation member said. The observers also noted that the purpose of their visit to Armenia in not the recognition or non-recognition of the referendum returns, since this is the matter the RA CEC should deal with. According to them, the fact of violations should be accepted, however violations committed by some people cannot nullify the whole process. The delegation members said they will issue two reports and will point out to the problems fixed during the mission.