"After a generally peaceful campaign we have observed an election which represents an improvement in meeting international standards, despite a number of serious incidents and shortcomings during the electoral process," Giovanni Kessler, the head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly delegation and special coordinator appointed by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office said at a press-conference. He noted that the low turnout was a clear indication of the lack of voter confidence in the electoral process and the political institutions in the country. Mr. Kessler stated that enhancing voter confidence was the major challenge of the political leadership in Armenia.

The observer mission led by the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE and the Council of Europe, and the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) monitored the elections in 777 polling stations and the tabulation process in 67 polling stations. In one third of these polling stations they observed a number of irregularities.

Notably, serious irregularities were registered in those polling stations where violations had been committed during the recent presidential election. Among serious irregularities, the observers mentioned falsification of results, intimidation of proxies and observers, and violations of the secrecy of the ballot during military voting.

Lord Russell-Johnston, head of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly delegation, was surprised by the fact that a half an hour before the polling stations closed voter turnout was 43% but when they closed this number had reached 51%. Lord Russell-Johnston hoped that those responsible for irregularities would be held accountable and that there would be no return to the sense of impunity evident in the recent presidential election. He was critical of the fact that the polling stations are located in buildings where the disabled and the elderly have difficulties with access. Ambassador Robert Barry, head of the OSCE/ODIHR long-term observer mission, positively assessed the fact that for the first time the Central Election Commission published the preliminary results by polling stations.
Ambassador Barry said that in precincts with tense contests among majoritarian candidates, the irregularities were predictable. He singled out Precinct #24 in the village of Shahumyan, where the voting was marred by a fatal shooting on Election Day.

The international observer mission stressed that its final conclusion on the extent to which the elections meet international standards will depend on the transparency of the tabulation and the announcement of results, as well as the process of resolving complaints.