Observers complained about violations during campaigning in the municipal elections in Armenia.
"Independent Observer" appealed to the Central Electoral Commission of Armenia regarding possible abuse of administrative resources by the governor of the Lori region, who used the administration's social media page for campaigning.
The public alliance "Independent Observer" appealed to the Central Electoral Commission and to the territorial electoral commission No. 25 regarding possible abuse of administrative resources by the governor of the Lori region.
Elections for the council of elders will take place in the community of Stepanavan on October 25. According to the latest amendments to the law of the Republic of Armenia on administrative-territorial division, the enlarged community of Stepanavan is merging with the enlarged community of Lori Berd.
Five political forces are participating in the elections in this community. The electoral list of the "Civil Contract" party is headed by the current head of the Lori Berd community, Araik Nersisyan, while the current head of the Stepanavan community, Armen Grigoryan, heads the electoral list of the "Gortsarar" party, writes News.Am.
As part of the monitoring of pre-election campaigning, "Independent Observer" recorded that from October 8 to 15, 2026, numerous video materials were published on the official Facebook page of the Lori region administration, in which Governor Aren Mkrtchyan presents implemented programs and changes in the Lori Berd community alongside Araik Nersisyan — the candidate of the "Civil Contract" party in the elections in the Stepanavan community.
At the same time, publications about other communities are few, and publications about the settlements of the current Stepanavan community are completely absent, although by the same logic, work was also carried out in these settlements. Such selective approach was noticeable in September, when ahead of the elections for the council of elders on September 27, materials representing implemented and planned reforms in the community of Tumanyan predominated on the official page of the regional administration, with the participation of the head of the community and candidate Suren Tumanyan.
"Independent Observer" appealed to the Central Electoral Commission and to the higher commission, presenting materials on the recorded cases and requesting measures to hold the governor of the Lori region, Aren Mkrtchyan, administratively accountable. "If the electoral commissions do not take appropriate measures, 'Independent Observer' will appeal to the administrative court regarding administrative responsibility," the statement said.