OSCE/ODHIR Issued a Report on Preliminary Findings of April 2 Parliamentary Elections of the RA

• 04.03.2017, 15:40
•  Europe,  World

BelTA

The OSCE/ODHIR, OSCE PA, PACE and European Parliament has issued preliminary findings and conclusions on April 2 Parliamentary elections of the RA.

"The 2 April parliamentary elections were well administered and fundamental freedoms were generally respected. Despite welcomed reforms of the legal framework and the introduction of new technologies to reduce the incidents of electoral irregularities, the elections were tainted by credible information about vote-buying, and pressure on civil servants and employees of private companies. This contributed to an overall lack of public confidence and trust in the elections. Election day was generally calm and peaceful but marked by organizational problems and undue interference in the process, mostly by party representatives," the report says. 

It also added that the election day was calm and peaceful overall. Voting procedures were generally followed and the VADs functioned effectively. "However, the voting process was marked by overcrowding, long queues and interference by party representatives and police. Crowds were allowed to gather outside of polling stations, contrary to the law. Voters had difficulties understanding the voting process in 35 per cent of observations and instances of group voting and attempts to influence voters were observed. The vote count was conducted in a transparent manner but was assessed negatively in many cases, mostly due to interference of party representatives, as well as some procedural omissions. IEOM observers assessed the tabulation process positively in 33 out of 38 TECs observed. Despite some overcrowding, the processing of results protocols at the TECs was generally well organized," the report said.