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Armenian Bar Association's Statement on Yerevan Municipal Elections
The Armenian Bar Association closely followed the events leading up to and culminating in Yerevan 's May 5, 2013 municipal elections. We did so with the hope that the lessons of the previous parliamentary and presidential elections would be both redeeming examples of conformities with, as well as cautionary precedents of violations of, free and fair elections.
With renewed concern, we are led to conclude that this week's compromise of the citizenry's rights with respect to the rule of law and notions of fair play and substantial justice in the electoral process were as egregious, if not more, than the serious challenges to voters' constitutional rights which were experienced during the February 2013 presidential election and the May 2012 parliamentary elections.
We regret that those who hold power in Armenia did not embrace these most recent elections as an opportunity to break with the past and to honor their basic responsibilities by providing a free and democratic way for residents of Yerevan to choose their government.
The enormity and great number of violations based upon credible sources include ballot stuffing, bribery, voter intimidation, forged signatures on voter lists, use of physical force and, significantly, a Central Election Commission which is not subject to an independent review process and which lacks accountability. See, for example: http://armdex.com/
The sheer number and consistency of grave violations recorded and widely-reported by virtually every monitoring group provide substantial justification to express deep disappointment about the utter disregard of the civil rights of the citizens of Armenia generally and specifically of the residents of the beloved capital of our Armenian homeland -- Yerevan.
The Armenian Bar Association calls for an independent and transparent investigation of election-related human and civil rights violations in order to ensure and instill confidence, for the country's citizens and for those outside Armenia , that the government reflects the free expression of the will of its people.
The Armenian Bar Association will continue to lend its institutional support to the advancement of the rule of law and the serious work of building democracy in Armenia .
In that respect, we call upon all diasporan and concerned organizations and individuals, and most certainly the governing authorities of the Republic of Armenia , to join together as we strive to make Armenia a truly democratic republic and homeland.
ARMENIAN BAR ASSOCIATION
May 8, 2013
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