Yesterday, students and teachers took part in the “Civil Agreement” campaign in Aragatsotn region during school hours. This fact appeared in the press, raised a wave of criticism, which forced the CEC to issue a statement.

“The Central Electoral Commission reiterates that administrative resources are the human, financial, and material means possessed by public office holders and public service officials during elections, due to their control over personnel, finances, and allocations in the public sector.

It is prohibited to use administrative resources during the organization and implementation of pre-election campaign to those in public service, employees of healthcare or medical organizations, educational institutions, preschool educational institutions while exercising their powers or acting in their official capacity.

Once again, we call for the pre-election campaign to be carried out within the framework of the Electoral Code constitutional law,” the CEC statement said.

Human rights defender Anahit Manasyan also made a toothless statement, in which he lightly scolded the government, without pointing out the direct addressee.

“Regarding the published information about the disruption of the educational process during the election campaign, the Human Rights Defender considers it necessary to emphasize that the unimpeded, continuous and full realization of children’s right to education during the election process should be prioritized and guaranteed.

The defender reaffirms that the state, educational institutions and all competent bodies are obliged to guarantee such an environment where the educational process will not be disrupted by any external interference, including actions caused by political processes.

The defender of human rights emphasizes the provision of such practices by educational institutions and competent authorities, which will exclude the interruption or disruption of the educational process during class hours.

The Ombudsman’s staff continues to monitor the issues related to the protection of human rights during the electoral processes, ensuring impartial, independent and non-political activity within the scope of its mandate,” the HRD statement said.

However, as can be seen, none of these state speakers directly mentioned the name of CP party, that the children were cut off from school, and so were their teachers, just to participate in the propaganda of Nikol Pashinyan.

By the way, Pashinyan also assured the question addressed to him that any violation will not remain without consequences, an investigation will be conducted.

And we can imagine what legal consequences and information noise would arise if this happened during the opposition campaign…

—