ARMENIAN FORMER RULING PARTY QUESTIONS PARLIAMENTARY POLL RESULTS
Arminfo
18 May 07
Yerevan, 18 May: Improved falsification methods were used to rig the
12 May parliamentary election in Armenia, the board of the former
ruling party in Armenia, Pan-Armenian National Movement, has said in
a statement. Arminfo received the statement today.
According to the statement, pro-government forces frequently violated
current legislation during the months prior to the election and in
the course of the election campaign [as published].
Voters and members of electoral commissions were regularly bribed
en masse.
[Fake] ballots were dropped into ballot boxes in numerous instances,
which were recorded. Voters were brought to polling stations by taxies
and shuttle busses.
The vote count at some polling stations was suspiciously slow. There
were many instances of violence which often ended in murders. Dozens
of people sustained heavy bodily injuries. Some election headquarters
were set on fire.
The above instances made worse the atmosphere of fear that had already
been in place in society.
International observers also noted that the ruling party failed to
separate itself from the authorities during the election campaign,
that is, government resources were actively used.
Voters’ passports were collected en masse and on 12 May, voters were
forced to vote for the ruling party [Republican Party of Armenia,
led by Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan].
Fake passports were issued en masse, as a result of which most
falsifications were made, the statement says.
In view of the above, the Pan-Armenian National Movement party stated
that the outcome of the past election cannot be declared valid.
The party is prepared to resolutely fight for the victory of freedom
and democracy. "We call on society not to despair and not put up
with lawlessness.
Any unlawful authorities and dictatorship are historically doomed,"
the party’s statement says.