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The pre-electoral delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has released a statement, saying it supports the opinion of the Venice Commission, which concluded that the electoral legislation in Armenia allows for the organisation of free and democratic elections, if it is applied in good faith and if there is a political will. However, the delegation states that after having heard detailed explanations of the new electoral code, it still felt that “it was too complicated to be understood by the general public” and believes that “this may lead to confusion and add to existing distrust in the electoral process.”

The delegation recalls that, in previous observations of elections in Armenia, the Parliamentary Assembly, ODIHR and other international observers criticized the country for cases of misuse of administrative resources, allegations of vote-buying, intimidation or even physical violence towards electors during election campaigns.

“In this regard, concerning the elections scheduled for 2 April 2017, the pre-electoral delegation asks the relevant authorities to take all necessary measures, at all hierarchical levels and throughout the entire country, in order to prevent such practices in the period preceding polling day, as well as on polling day itself,” says the statement, published on the official website of the organization on Friday. 

The delegation also expresses hope that on polling day both domestic and international observers will be allowed to observe freely, without fear of being expelled from polling stations if they point out irregularities. At the same time the statement calls for eliminate official demands to the media for the disclosure of their sources and exercise severe punishment for those responsible for any kind of irregularities, either during the campaign or on election day.

“The delegation felt that Armenia’s political culture still needs to be developed, as politics is linked to personalities rather than ideologies and political programmes with concrete proposals to address the numerous political, economic and sociological issues confronting the country,” the statement said, referring to reports about financing of certain opposition parties was strongly discouraged by intimidation, businessmen were at risk of seeing their businesses endangered, as well as the danger of social resignation and passivity.

To remind, the PACE pre-electoral delegation was in Yerevan at the invitation of the President of the National Assembly of Armenia and held meetings with  the President of the National Assembly, the Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission, representatives of the main parliamentary and non-parliamentary political parties, NGO and media representatives, the Head of the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission, representatives of international organisations and members of the diplomatic corps in Yerevan. A full-fledged, 32-member team of PACE observers will arrive in Yerevan at the end of March to observe the vote.