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Armenia’s Justice Minister Davit Harutyunyan considers the matter of changing the staff of Armenian Central Electoral Commission (CEC) is the internal affairs of a certain state, while in Armenia the matter is decided by the National Assembly.

Harutyunyan’s comments came in response to remarks by the Head of the European Union Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Świtalski, who earlier suggested the need of making Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission (CEC) “a reliable establishment that would enjoy the public trust.”

Świtalski said the abovementioned at a conference on the topic of “Election Developments in Armenia” held in Yerevan.

“If Świtalski made such a comment, I think that is an attempt to interfere with domestic affairs which is unacceptable regardless of whether that was done for good or other intentions,” noted Harutyunyan at a briefing with reporters after the Cabinet session.

As to the criticism of the ranked voting system in Armenia, justice minister noted the matter is of political nature and not ambassadors but rather respective specialists should come up with opinions on electoral systems.

“The Venice Commissions is the highest body in the respective sphere that has issued its conclusion. The fact remains that the system adopted by us corresponds to international criteria. The other issue is it [the electoral system] is complex, as we attempted to establish mechanisms to ensure, say the representation of national minorities in the parliament. Was it possible to simplify the Code [Electoral]? Yes, with some negative costs, though. We weighted on before a decision was made to proceed with certain direction,” stressed the minister.