On June 20, the voting day for snap parliamentary
elections in the Republic of Armenia, the Office of the Human Rights
Defender received 145 alarming
calls and complaints concerning the electoral process as of 19:00 p.m., and 941
social media and media publications were examined.
The
alarming calls addressed to the Office’s hotline primarily concerned the
accessibility of polling stations, receiving information
on the number and location of the
polling station, violation
of the voting procedure, the
exercise of the voting rights by a
person in a medical institution, the absence of
ballots or their obvious difference from one another, non-inclusion in the
voter lists on election day, the impossibility for a
person with a disability to access the polling place on their own, etc.
The
problems most commonly reported on social networks and media outlets include violations of the procedure for distributing ballots,
not distributing the ballot of a specific political force, cases of influencing
citizens (including servicemen) to cast their votes, violations of the established ballot form, alarms to
law-enforcement authorities with regard to cases of bribing, 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, an alarming call concerning the shot (heard)
in Azatashen village and apprehended persons received, and necessary
clarifications were given by the Police. In addition, a rapid response visit was
paid to the head of the pre-election headquarters of the “Armenia” (“Hayastan”)
alliance in Sisian, and a private interview took place.
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
Departments of
the Police. Contacts were also established with human rights NGOs when necessary. Special attention
was given to ensuring the unimpeded activities of journalists and election
observers.
Early
this morning, the Human Rights Defender had a phone call with Mr. Arman
Babajanyan, leader
of the “Shirinyan-Babajanyan” people alliance’s
pre-election list, immediately after information about the shooting on the
windshield of his Land Cruiser Prado car was published. The law enforcement
bodies should take all the necessary measures to ensure a prompt investigation to reveal what happened.
The Human Rights Defender’s Office will address an
official letter to law enforcement authorities and the issue will remain at the center of the Human Rights
Defender’s attention.
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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