In one reported instance, an opposition representative was allegedly offered “ten thousand dollars to momentarily leave the room,” reported Hetq, who also noted complaints that some voters used incorrect or nonexistent permanent addresses. YouTube videos such as this one purport to show how to remove the voting stamp from an Armenian passport. If true, such a technique would allow for multiple votes.
In a letter accompanying the list of alleged irregularities, the Hovannisian campaign decried the “ultimate failure of the authorities to organize a free and transparent presidential election,” and called the proceedings “a humiliating, scandalous election.”
On Tuesday morning, authorities were pursuing two criminal cases in connection to electoral crimes, according to Hetq.
In a press release, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) stated that the Armenian election displayed “clear improvements” over previous elections, according to the Head of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) delegation, Karen Woldseth. The election was “generally well-administered,” but there were “areas where marked improvement is needed,” according to the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) as quoted in that press release . Milan Cabrnoch, the head of the European Parliament Delegation, conceded that the decision by several “major political parties” to not put forward candidates had led to a campaign devoid of “real competition” and “significant political debate.”
The Head of the ODIHR long-term election observation mission pointed out the presence in Armenia of biased public servants, due in large part to the continued “blurring of the distinction between the State and the ruling party.”
The statements by these international observers did not mention the alleged election-day irregularities reported by opposition candidate Hovannisian’s campaign.
