RESS RELEASE
Armenian National Committee
Eastern United States
P.O. Box 1066
New York, NY 10040
Contact: Doug Geogerian
Tel: 917-428-1918
Fax: 718-651-3637
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
June 2, 2005
US Academics to Observe Karabagh Elections
NEW YORK – The Armenian National Committee reports that an independent
delegation of US academics will visit Nagorno-Karabagh this month to
serve as observers in the upcoming NKR parliamentary elections.
The delegation consists of Professors Dan Shartin and Leontina Hormel,
both of Worcester State College (WSC). Prof. Shartin is a past chair
of WSC’s Philosophy Department, while Prof. Hormel is a sociologist
specializing in the study of Ukraine’s shadow economy. Both are noted
scholars with long records of human rights activism. The delegation
will likely include additional members representing human rights
groups.
The delegation will arrive in Karabagh just prior to the June
19 elections, and will be meeting with members of the NKR Central
Electoral Commission, journalists, human rights activists, political
party representatives, as well as candidates and the electorate. They
will serve as observers on June 19 and will remain in Karabagh until
the vote tally concludes the following day.
“We are delighted that such prominent activists have agreed to join
the effort to ensure transparency in Karabagh’s elections,” stated
Doug Geogerian, ANC-ER Executive Director. “We are hopeful that
Karabagh’s leadership and people, once again, will demonstrate the
maturity to hold free and fair elections, in a region of the world
where democracy’s hold is often still tenuous.”
The delegation’s logistical arrangements are being coordinated with
the NKR’s Public Affairs Office, based in Washington, DC.
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