International observers continued short-term monitoring of snap elections to the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia

On 8 December 2018 an organizational meeting of the IPA CIS Observer Team took place in the capital of the Republic of Armenia. The meeting was opened by Secretary General – Head of the IPA CIS Council Secretariat Yury Osipov.

IPA CIS Observer Team Coordinator, Deputy Torag of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrghyz Republic Mirlan Bakirov informed the participants on the composition of the team and principles of work of the observers within the framework of the short-term monitoring of the snap elections to the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.

IIMDD IPA CIS expert Alexey Kartsov briefed the observers on of the regulatory framework for organization of the elections to the National Assembly. Head of the IIMDD IPA CIS expert group Roman Amburtsev informed the participants on the outcomes of its activities.

Director of the IPA CIS IIMDD Dmitry Gladei drew attention to the peculiarities of the voting process in the Republic of Armenia and mentioned that on the Election Day, on 9 December 2018, IPA CIS international observers would monitor voting stations in Yerevan and the settlements of four marzes in Armenia in accordance with individual routes.

A meeting of international observers with Chairman of the Central Electoral Committee of the Republic of Armenia Tigran Mukuchyan took place the same day. The IPA CIS Team Coordinator Mirlan Bakirov informed the CEC leaders on the outcomes of the long-term monitoring, carried out by experts, and described the short-term monitoring plans on the Election Day.

During the following meeting with the representatives of parties’ HQs and candidates “Moi Shag” bloc, “Republican Party of Armenia” and “Enlightened Party” the international observers expressed interest in their assessment of the electoral campaign.