Ashotyan’s manipulations regarding electoral reforms

Speaking about the changes in the Electoral Code, RPA Deputy Chairman Armen Ashotyan made several claims that are obviously untrue.

According to him, the current Electoral Code was prepared in the “4 + 4 + 4” format, where representatives of the authorities, opposition and civil society participated. This, however, does not correspond to the reality. The central requirements of the opposition and civil society (e.g. proportional electoral system) were ignored. Moreover, many suggestions by the Venice Commission and the OSCE / ODIHR regarding the current Electoral Code were not accepted.

According to Ashotyan, “The government did not take any steps to replenish, modernize or acquire technical equipment.”  Meanwhile, in reality, the government is actively working in that direction. The government is negotiating with suppliers and international donor organizations to purchase missing cameras and electronic registration devices. Work is underway with the Venice Commission, the OSCE / ODIHR, the United Nations Development Program and other organizations.

Moreover, while RPA vice-president blames the executive for failing to fulfill the voter lists clearance promise, the Draft Electoral Code actually has a clear mechanism for implementing it. Particularly, the methodology for maintaining the lists will change, as a result of which about 150,000 people, who have been missing from the country for a long time, will be removed from the voter lists.

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