Observers question results of referendum in Armenia

In Armenia, the referendum on constitutional reform was accompanied by pressure on observers and all types of violations. This was stated by members of observer organizations interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot". They have questioned the official results of the referendum.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 6, Armenia held voting at the referendum on the constitutional reform project. During the day, observers noted a low turnout, as well as violations committed at precincts. As at the time of the closure of the precincts, the voter turnout reached 50.51%.

The official information reported by the Central Election Commission (CEC) has nothing in common with reality. This opinion was expressed by human rights defender Arthur Sakunts, the head of the Vanadzor Office of the Helsinki Civil Assembly.

Arthur Sakunts has told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that in the course of the referendum held on December 6 in Armenia, human rights defenders recorded all types of violations, including ballot stuffing, unprecedented pressure on observers and journalists, voting for other voters, and transportation of people from one precinct to another for voting in several places.

The "Caucasian Knot" has been informed by Vardine Grigoryan, an observer from the Vanadzor Office of the Helsinki Civil Assembly, that during the entire day of the referendum, the initiative "Citizen Observer" revealed 941 violations reported only by means of SMS-messages from observers who carried out a mission at precincts.

"The falsified results of the referendum do not reflect the free will of the Armenian people, and they should not be considered legitimate," declared Lene Veteland, a member of the European Platform of Democratic Elections (EPDE), at the press conference held on December 7.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.