On June 20, voting day
for snap parliamentary elections in the Republic of Armenia, the Office of the Human Rights Defender received 59 alarming
calls and complaints concerning the electoral process as of 15:00 p.m., and 570
social media and media publications were examined.
The alarming calls addressed
to the Office’s hotline primarily concerned the accessibility of polling
stations, the impossibility for a person with disability to access the polling place
on their own, the issue of inclusion in supplementary voter lists, violation voting
procedure, etc.
The problems most
commonly reported on social networks and media outlets include violations of
the procedure for distributing ballots, cases of influencing citizens
(including servicemen) to cast their votes, violations of the established ballot
form, etc.
The Defender’s
representatives carried out several rapid responses, including rapid response
visits on the basis of the alarming calls and monitoring results. In particular,
discussions were held and clarifications concerning various issues were
received from the Central Electoral Commission, Ministry of Defense, and Nork
Social Care Home. Visits were made to police stations, including rapid response
visits to Provincial Department of the Police. Contacts were also established
with human rights NGOs. Special attention was given to ensuring the unimpeded activities
of journalists and election observers.
As a reminder, the
working group established on the Defender’s instruction is carrying out
independent monitoring of
the electoral process since the early morning both in the central and regional
subdivisions of the Defender's Office (subdivisions of Shirak, Gegharkunik,
Syunik and Tavush provinces).
Aside from the aforementioned
provinces, representatives of the working group were dispatched to the Syunik Province
in order to examine possible complaints regarding electoral rights in Vayots
Dzor and Syunik Provinces on site and provide a rapid response if necessary.
Throughout the day, in parallel, the steps taken based on alarming calls and publications,
and oversight activities are being
summarized.
To contact them, call 043-513-116.
The issues pertaining
to
journalists' and election
observers’
professional activities are under
special attention.
Complaints or calls with regard to the
realization of electoral rights can be addressed to the Defender’s Office via
116 and (096) 116100 hotline numbers.
The subdivisions in provinces
are available through the following phone numbers:
055-116-615 – the
subdivision of Syunik Province,043-991-189 - the subdivision of Gegharkunik Province,
043-512-116 – the
subdivision of Shirak Province,
+374 263 40 116 - the subdivision of Tavush Province.
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