Mirrors found at polling station
03:34 PM | TODAY | POLITICS
Observers of Human Rights in Armenia () recorded new cases
of violations in the February 18 ballot.
14:09 – Gyumri, 34/27 – CSI observer noted that a proxy was
sitting very close to one of the polling booth and was trying to see
for whom voters vote. There were gatherings at the polling station as
well.
14:25 – It was reported to the hotline 080 080 804 that the members of
the Commission at one of the polling station in Lukashin village of
Armavir marz stood next to the voters and check for whom they were
voting.
12:38 – A citizen called the hotline 080 080 804 and reported that
there were incidents of open ballot voting and double voting in
Geghazat village of Ararat marz.
14:10 – Yerevan, Avan, 1/08 Polling station – CSI observer informed
that there had been considerable gatherings of people at the polling
station for already 20 minutes and it created chaos. The Chair of the
Commission was smoking and did not control the situation. Voters were
voting in two at the polling booths.
13:30 – It was reported on the hotline 080 080 804 that the temporary
stamp in the passport vanished two hours after voting.
13:53 – Yerevan, 8/05, 8/06, 8/07 Polling station – The lawyer and
observer of the crew of “Legal Ambulance” car observed that a citizen
was voting outside the polling station, in a car.
12:15 – Observer of NGO “Europe of Law” Tigran Egoryan called the
hotline 080 080 804 and reported that the Chairs of the Commission at
the polling stations 17/2, 17/3 isolated observers, whereas at polling
station 17/7 an incident of double voting was registered.
12:00 – Gyumri, 34/30 Polling station – CSI observer reported that
proxies of the candidates did not have required IDs on them. They
stated that they could not pierce their coats and pin the IDs on them.
13:50 – Artashat, 17/01 Polling station – CSI observer observed
several instances when two persons voted at the same polling booth at
the same time.
09:00 – 10:00 – Gavar, 22/15 Polling station – CSI observer informed
that a number of voters go to the polling station accompanied by a
woman. After the voting, the voters accompanied by the same woman go
towards a car parked approximately 100 m off the polling station where
the woman in question makes some notes and then the voters leave.
13:04 – Artashat, 17/1 Polling station – CSI observer reported that
there were two persons at the polling booth who failed to register
according to the established procedure. It appeared that the daughter
assisted to her mother to vote. The observer reported the incident to
the Chair of the Commission. The issue was solved.
Observer of NGO “Europe of Law” told CSI observer that there were
mirrors on the wall behind the polling booth at the same polling
station that violated the secrecy of ballot. Following the
intervention of the international observers, the Chair of the
Commission covered the mirrors.
13:10 – Vanadzor, 30/31 Polling station – CSI observer reported that
electoral campaign’s song of the candidate for the President’s office
Serzh Sargsyan “To the secure Armenia” was loudly played at the CD
shop located in front of the polling station. Following observer’s
intervention, police fixed the issue.
13:05 – Yerevan, 13/37 Polling station – CSI observer observed how a
voter threw in his driving license together with the ballot into the
ballot box. He demanded to unseal the ballot box and take out his
driving license but the Chair of the Commission stated that he had no
right to unseal the box.
12:15 – Gyumri, 34/27 Polling station – CSI observer observed that the
proxy of Serzh Sargsyan entered into the polling booth and guided a
few voters for whom to vote.
12:00 – Yerevan, 4/11 Polling station – Theproxy of Raffi Hovhannisyan
told CSI observer that there was a woman on the ground floor of the
polling station who was checking voters who came to the polling
station on her checklist. Upon the proxy’s intervention she was driven
out of the polling station.
11:38 – Yerevan, 13/38 Polling station – Amalya Harutyunyan who is
proxy of Raffi Hovhannisyan, told CSI observer that a person had voted
with a Georgian passport. While they were trying to find out whether
that person had Armenian citizenship, the latter voted and left the
polling station.
12:20 – Goris, 37/29 Polling station – CSI observer reported that
there were two proxies representing candidate for the President’s
office Serzh Sargsyan at the polling station. Following observer’s
intervention, the issue was solved; the Chair of the Commission asked
one of the proxies to leave the polling room.
The observer reports that Serzh Sargsyan is the only candidate whose
proxies are present at a number of polling stations of Goris.
12:20 – Artashat, 17/01 Polling station – Observer Khachatur
Siradeghyan called 080 080 804 hotline and reported that three proxies
hindered his as well as a journalist of “Iravunk” newspaper Elimira
Martirosyan’s work, did not allow them to come closer stating that
the observer and the journalist in question hinder their, proxies’
work. The observer also stated that they were under psychological
pressure.
2:10 – Tsakhkadzor, 25/28 Polling station – CSI observer observed
gatherings of people.
11:31 – Akhuryan, 35/04 Polling station – Journalist of the crew of
“Legal ambulance” car reported that voters are transferred to and from
the polling station by a micro-bus. For more details see
hetq.am/arm/news/23463/mikroavtobusy-uxevorner-e-texapokhum-yntratexamas.html
11:47 – Aparan, 14/22 Polling station – CSI observer observed two
persons in the same polling booth that constitutes a violation of the
law. Upon intervention of the Chair of the Commission the issue was
fixed.
11:45 – Gyumri, 34/27 Polling station – CSI observer observed that a
proxy tried to assist or guide voters. The proxy did not inform whose
(which candidate) proxy he was. According to the Armenian Electoral
Code, proxy is not allowed to assist a voter incapable to vote alone.
11:30 – Yerevan, 8/16 Polling Station – Journalist of the crew of
“Legal Ambulance” car observed that the husband voted on behalf of his
wife failing to notify the Commission or register as an assistant.
More details at
10:55-11:30 – Yerevan, 13/32 Polling station – CSI observer observed
gatherings of people. The same person assisted a number of voters to
vote on various occasions. According to the Armenian Electoral Code,
a person is allowed to assist another voter only once. The members of
the Commission and proxies are not allowed to assist to vote.
11:20 – Yerevan – A voter called the hotline 080 080 804 and reported
that the ink stamp from his passport vanished an hour later after the
voting. The voter voted at the polling station located at Kindergarten
113 of Yerevan.
11:20 – Hrazdan, 25/10 Polling station – CSI observer observed that
the Chair of the Commission is not present at the polling station. The
Secretary of the Commission clarified that she was replacing the Chair
whilst the latter went to vote.
10:30-10:55 – Gegharkuniq marz, Gavar, 22/15 Polling station – In
course of the visit, CSI observer observed gathering of people. The
number of people at the polling station exceeded 15. This led to
confusion and hubbub at the polling station. The situation improved by
10:55 a.m. Police officers dispersed the gathering.
10:52 – Aparan, 14/21 Polling station – CSI observer observed
gathering of people. The observer applied to the Chair of the
Commission and the latter asked some of the persons to leave the
polling station. According to Article 63 (33) of the Armenian
Electoral Code, there should be not more than 15 persons at the same
time at the polling station.
10:35 – Yerevan, 9/15 Polling station – CSI observer noticed that the
Chair of the Commission wears a pin with the sign of the Armenian
Republican Party.
10:05 – Hrazdan, 25/26, 25/26 Polling station – The Chair of the
Commission Eghiazaryan Samvel left the polling station to go to the
shop and returned in 5 minutes.
According to the Armenian Electoral Code, the Chair of the Commission
has to ensure normal voting process in the polling station whilst it
is not clear in regard to the issue how to proceed in Chair’s absence.
08:55 – Yerevan, 9/4 Polling station- CSI observer observed that the
Chair of the Commission left the polling station stating. The latter
informed that he was going to vote and would be back in 10 minutes.
According to the Electoral Code, the Chair of the Commission has to
ensure normal voting process in the polling station whilst it is not
clear in regard to the issue how to proceed in Chair’s absence.
09:45-10:45 – Yerevan, 9/27 and 9/28 Polling stations – “Gazel”
microbus with yellow car plate numbers 0858s periodically transfer
people to Noragyugh.
9:47 – Yerevan, 5/24 Polling station – The Chair of the Commission
tried to drive out CSI observer of the polling station stating that
observers’ ID was not visible.
8:02 – Yerevan, 9/3 Polling station – CSI observer observed that the
Chair of the Commission Gohar Karapetyan left the polling station.
First she stated that she was leaving to see a doctor, then she said
that she was going to vote. According to the Electoral Code, the Chair
of the Commission has to ensure normal voting process in the polling
station whilst the Code is not clear in regard to the issue how to
proceed in Chair’s absence.
10:22 – Aparan, 14/23 Polling station – CSI observer reported that
there were two persons in the polling booth which is a violation. The
observer applied to the Chair of the Commission and the latter fixed
the issue by inviting one of the two persons out of the polling booth.
09:00 – Gyumri, 34/22 Polling station – CSI observer observed that by
9 a.m. the Chair of the Commission Arusyak Hovhannisyan was absent.
The voters’ lists at the same polling station were posted at a place
inconvenient to reach for the voters – at the school’s backyard. The
observer also observed gatherings of people.
09:57 – Goris, 37/07 Polling station – CSI observer reported that the
candidate for the President’s office Serzh Sargsyan has two proxies at
that polling station which is a violation. As it is stipulated in the
Electoral Code, only one proxy per candidate is allowed to be present
in the polling room.
Update – The cars of “Elections 2013 – Legal Initiative” visited the
polling station where they were told that two proxies were not present
at the polling room at the same time but rather replace each other.
09:20 – Tavush Marz, village Getahovit, 40/33 Polling Station – CSI
observer observed a case of open voting. When the voter left the
polling booth, he approached the ballot box, took out and showed his
ballot and stated loudly for whom he had voted. He explained to the
observers that he belonged to the Armenian Republican Party, he did
that statement voluntarily to prove them. According to the Armenian
Electoral Code, there is responsibility stipulated for violation of
the secret ballot voting.
08:30 – Aparan, 14/21 Polling Station – The CSI observer reported that
an old woman was assisted to vote in the polling booth by two persons.
The Chair of the Commission did not take any steps to prevent the
violation stating that the woman was very old and had difficulties
with voting.
08:45 – Yerevan, Davtashen, 5/8 Polling Station – The Chair of the
Commission did not register CSI observer and did not allow her to
enter the polling station stating, that observer’s ID should be pinned
in a manner to be clearly visible at all times. There no such explicit
requirement in the Armenian Electoral Code, hence showing observer’s
ID is sufficient to be registered and to enter the polling station.
08:45 Yerevan, Avan, 1/6 Polling station – “Civil Society Institute”
NGO observer has reported that there was a hole on the bottom of the
sealed ballot box. In regard to that, the Chair of the Commission
stated that all the members of the Commission had checked the ballot
box and sealed it, and it was possible that there were similar boxes
in other polling stations.
At the same polling station the proxy of Raffi Hovhannisyan told the
observer that the Commission did not give him an opportunity to work,
did not engage him in the voting process and did not provide with any
information.