Violations at 7/28 Polling Station
With polls now closed in Yerevan, today’s mayoral election has been marred by extensive reports from local and diasporan observers of intense cheating, interference and corruption. The mayoral election, which many had hoped would be a progressive step forward from February’s presidential election, has been described by some observers as a step backward with one calling it ‘the worst election of the past few years’.
In an attempt to clarify the comments made earlier today by HAK member Anahit Nersisyan, president of the local election committee at the 5/2 polling station in Davtashen,
At 7/28 the Policeman Didn't Answer the Questions of the Reporter
Even though 23 year-old Erik Davtyan has voted in four elections at the same polling station, no one has ever thought of installing a temporary accessibility ramp for the physically impaired on Election Day.
“It is apparent to all that the Republican Party is involved in voter fraud and a sponsor of corruption. Thus, when the opposition recognizes the right of such a political force to enter the election they have already lost,” said Ghoukasyan.
ARF election proxy Gevorg Khoudinyan informed Hetq that a voter named Razmik Khanamyan told him that someone else had voted for five people registered at his address but who are now living in Moscow.
President of the Commission Prohibits Check Passports
Gohar Barseghyan, a Republican Party member of the local election committee at the Davtashen 5/3 polling station was observed handing two ballots to a voter.
“One said he was illiterate, another said he had trouble seeing. But that’s no reason to allow someone else to step in and help them,” Nersisyan sai
Violations at Polling Station 8/08
The ARF election hot line has informed Hetq that Hayro Hayrapetyan, a Republican Party member of the Yerevan Municipal Council, has repeatedly entered the Shengavit12/20 polling station and argued with HAK and ARF proxies.
Tense Situation at Polling Station 7/15
Levon Vardanyan, an election proxy with the Barev Yerevan alliance, stated that there were a number of names on the voter rolls in the 4/33 polling station in Arabkir of people who left Armenia over twenty years ago.
HAK proxy Mikayel Kirakosyan has prepared a notice regarding two groups of young people milling about outside the 7/29 and 7/30 polling stations in Malatya-Sebastia.
The following video shows Republican Party proxy attempting to “guide” voters in the ballot process.
Transparency International monitor Babken Ter-Grigoryan has informed Hetq that the back-up in the 7/15 polling station is due to the fact that residents of area old-age homes are being bused in to vote.
Rouzanna Grigoryan, an election monitor from Transparency International, was threatened and her video camera was stolen at the 8/08 polling station in Malatya-Sebastia.
At 8:10 am, Hetq caught this minivan discharging voters at Davtashen School 93 where polling stations 5/1, 5/2 and 5/3 are located.
Local election committee President Lousik Mikayelyan was forced to temporarily close the doors after the Barev Yerevan proxy raised the alarm.
Reports are circulating that unidentified individuals are passing out green pens to voters opposite the polling station located in the school on Nar Tos Street.
In an unprecedented effort, approximately 100 Armenians from the Diaspora, both visiting and repatriated, as well as local Armenians and non-Armenian expats, have been working with approximately 160 election observers from civil society organizations such as Transparency International, and Asbarez Press Club, Gyumri, to monitor the upcoming Yerevan municipal elections on May 5.
On May 2, three young volunteers from Canada arrived at Zvartnots Airport to join the monitoring mission for Yerevan’s May 5 mayoral election. Anoush Frankian of Toronto, Ararad Torosyan of Montreal, and Rupen Janbazian of Toronto are now part of a team of more than 100 other Armenians from the Diaspora who will monitor the election alongside 1,700 local monitors.
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