Tsarukyan bloc broke the law with election promises: CEC

PanARMENIAN.Net - Ex-lawmaker, founder and former leader of Prosperous Armenia party Gagik Tsarukyan has violated the law by promising money or material benefits when starting off his election campaign, the Central Electoral Commission said on Thursday, March 9.

According to commission chief Tigran Mukuchyan, a warning has been issued to Tsarukyan bloc.

“No such promises can be made, such cases are violating the law,” Mukuchyan said, according to RFE/RL Armenian Service.

“We have already warned the party representatives to stop those practices and refrain from breaking the law.”

Should the bloc continue such conduct, the CEC will file a corresponding appeal and take measures set out in the Electoral Code, Mukuchyan added.

Under the Electoral Code, parties are prohibited to promise money, food, goods or services to voters during the election campaign.

On Tuesday, Tsarukyan promised the residents of Tavush a variety of goods and services, including plegdes to gasify a building, provide assistance for a person’s surgery, buy farmers' produce, provide agricultural equipment to one of the border villages, or even help one of the residents repair his car.

After the warning was issued, a Tsarukyan bloc candidate,Hayk Ghukasyan said the alliance will abide by the law and will instead implement all campaign promises after elections.

Parliamentary elections will be held on April 2. Nine blocs and parties are participating overall.

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