Vote fraud is not our credo. And the Police reports on vote fraud in favor of the Armenian National Congress at May 5 elections in Yerevan is a provocation, ANC Spokesperson Arman Musinyan told ArmInfo.

To recall, the Police reported that a voter with 3 ballot-papers filled in favor of the ANC was detained at the polling station 8/23. A criminal case has been initiated on the fact.

Elections to the Elders' Council of Yerevan were marked with a range of violations and incidents, involving also some candidates to the Elders' Council. Thus, at the polling station 7/15 in Malatia- Sebastian community the candidate to the Elders' Council from Prosperous Armenia Jivan Poghosyan and the head of the local election committee from the Republican Party Samvel Zakharyan had a quarrel.

At the polling stations 8/08 and 8/09 head of the election committee from RPA asked the police to tougher control over the voting process following relevant request by the Observer Citizen Initiative. They alarmed that voters were directed to vote in favor of certain candidates, the activity of observers was impeded.  There were
attempts to seize cameras, threats and insults by the Republican representatives. In response, RPA's proxy at the given polling station refuted the reports and called them a provocation.

By preliminary data of the CEC's e-calculation of votes from all the 464 polling stations, the ruling Republican Party of Armenia wins the elections to the Elders' Council of Yerevan.  Incumbent Mayor Taron Margaryan tops the RPA party list.  The Republicans received 55.89% of votes or 235512 votes.

Elections to the Elders' Council of Yerevan were conducted in all the 12 administrative districts in the city on May 5. The electoral registered comprised 816475 people, with voter turnout totaling 53.53% or 437021 voters.  The Elders' Council will elect Yerevan Mayor. Given that the Republicans received majority of votes, Taron Margaryan will retain his position of the Yerevan Mayor.

 After midnight Monday night some Republicans celebrated their victory in the Yerevan Mayor election with fireworks in some districts in Yerevan, which disturbed the residents. The Police brought three persons to administrative responsibility for launching fireworks at nighttime, Ashot Aharonyan, Head of the Armenian Police Department for Public Relations, writes on his Facebook page.

 "In compliance with Article 180.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences, launching fireworks at nighttime is subject to administrative responsibility. The remaining lawbreakers are currently wanted. They will be exposed and brought responsible," Aharonyan writes.

By preliminary data of the CEC's e-calculation of votes from all the 464 polling stations, the ruling Republican Party of Armenia wins the elections to the Elders' Council of Yerevan.  Incumbent Mayor Taron Margaryan tops the RPA party list.  The Republicans received 55.89% of votes or 235512 votes.

Elections to the Elders' Council of Yerevan were conducted in all the 12 administrative districts in the city on May 5. The electoral registered comprised 816475 people, with voter turnout totaling 53.53% or 437021 voters.  The Elders' Council will elect Yerevan Mayor. Given that the Republicans received majority of votes, Taron Margaryan will retain his position of the Yerevan Mayor.

 The past elections were much more successful and satisfactory than the previous elections to the Elders' Council of Yerevan in 2009. Hovhanness Sahakyan, Secretary of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, told ArmInfo commenting on the statement by the European Observer Mission.

He said that both the election campaign and the voting were successful.

"I cannot understand why did they express such opinion, but I think that a significant progress has been made at the elections in terms of Mass Media freedom and freedom of expression," the Republican said.

Today, on May 6, Stewart Dickson (United Kingdom, ILDG) Head of the Delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe observing the May 5 elections to the Council of Elders of Yerevan is concerned over possible voter bribery and misuse of administrative resources. The observer told media, Monday that
members of the delegation monitored over 100 polling stations on May 5. The delegation was informed that voters were pressed and directed to vote for certain candidates.  There were reports on voter bribery, he said. In this light, Stewart Dickson said, the delegation urges the Armenian authorities to put an end to the atmosphere of fear and
money during elections.

Elections to the Elders' Council of Yerevan were conducted in all the 12 administrative districts in the city on May 5. The Elders' Council will elect Yerevan Mayor. Given that the Republicans received majority of votes, Taron Margaryan will retain his position of the Yerevan Mayor. The Republicans received 55.89% of votes or 235512 votes.

 Armenian Police is examining 143 cases of violations during Yerevan Council of Elders election

As press-service of the Police reported, according to the received information concerning electoral violations registered on the day of the Elections of Yerevan's Council of Elders, 143 cases have been investigated so far and are in the investigation stage.  5 emergency calls were received by the RA police «Hotline» and 54 calls were
taken by Yerevan city department "Hotline".

Of which
-electoral bribe -40,
- non-statutory voting - 1,
-inhibition of the free implementation of voter's will-16,
-electoral fraud - 13,
-voting more than once or voting on behalf of another person-22,
-preventing trustees, observers, journalists, authorized persons from
fulfilling their powers-6,
- violation of voting secrecy -8,
-other violations  /inaccuracies in voters' lists, arguments at
polling stations, theft at polling stations, gatherings in front of
polling stations, transportation of voters and etc./ - 27.

Calls were received from

- ARF (Armenian Revolutionary federation) - 11,
- Barev Yerevan alliance, "Heritage" - 12,
- "Armenian National Congress" - 6,
- Orinats Yerklir - 1,
- Prosperous Armenia Party- 2,
- Others /mass media, social organizations and citizens/  - 111>

According to electoral areas:

Kentron -   5 cases,
Malatiya - 34 cases,
Arabkir -  28 cases,
Kanaker -  18 cases
Shengavit -16 cases,
Nor Nork  -9 cases,
Erebuni   -7 cases,
Mashtots - 26 cases.
Materials on the mentioned cases are being prepared. In compliance with article  34-153 of the Criminal code of the Republic of Armenia /attempted double voting/ criminal cases were initiated on 4 facts, 2 of which were initiated by Malatiya police division, 1 by Shengavit investigation division and 1 by Arabkir  investigation division.

After midnight Monday night some Republicans celebrated their victory in the Yerevan Mayor election with fireworks in some districts in Yerevan, which disturbed the residents. The Police brought three persons to administrative responsibility for launching fireworks at nighttime, Ashot Aharonyan, Head of the Armenian Police Department for Public Relations, writes on his Facebook page.

Yerevan Mayor election of May 5 ended in another victory of money and administrative resources over public, Secretary of Heritage Party Board Stepan Safaryan told ArmInfo.  

By preliminary data of the CEC's e-calculation of votes from all the 464 polling stations, the ruling Republican Party of Armenia wins the elections to the Elders' Council of Yerevan.  Incumbent Mayor Taron Margaryan tops the RPA party list.  The Republicans received 55.89% of votes or 235512 votes.
Prosperous Armenia Party with Vartan Oskanian took the second place with 23.07% of 97189 votes. Barev Yerevan opposition bloc with Armen Martirosyan took the third place with 8.48% or 35732 votes. The bloc is part of Heritage Party led by Raffi Hovannisian, who received 42.9% of votes at the past presidential elections in Feb 2013. 
Given that the threshold to the city council is 6% for parties and 8% for blocs, only the given parties were elected to the Elders' Council of Yerevan. Armenian National Congress Party received 4.39% of 18499 votes. ARFD received 3.8% or 15999. Orinats Yerkir received 3.73% or 15733 votes. Arakelutyun received 0.64% or 2692 votes.  
"Elections were conducted in terrible conditions where propaganda of  any ideas and political capital had no significance. Something similar was observed at the past parliamentary elections when the authorities were delivering voters to polling stations on any vehicles. Thousands of citizens were told from 'above' to ensure specific quantity of votes in favor of the Republicans and bring specific number of voters to polling stations etc. On May 5 the authorities and not the election committees or the opposition controlled over elections.  Elections were beyond the polling stations and the election committees," Safaryan said.  
Earlier, Heritage Party Spokesperson Hovsep Khurshudyan said that Barev Yeervan bloc might dispute the voting outcome. The party will announce its final decision within the period stipulated by the law.  
Elections to the Elders' Council of Yerevan were conducted in all the 12 administrative districts in the city on May 5. The electoral registered comprised 816475 people, with voter turnout totaling 53.53% or 437021 voters.  The Elders' Council will elect Yerevan Mayor. Given that the Republicans received majority of votes, Taron Margaryan will retain his position of the Yerevan Mayor. -m-

By preliminary data of the CEC's e-calculation of votes from all the 464 polling stations, the ruling Republican Party of Armenia wins the elections to the Elders' Council of Yerevan.  Incumbent Mayor Taron Margaryan tops the RPA party list. The Republicans received 55.89% of votes or 235512 votes.

The Central Electoral Commission of Armenia has counted votes in 56 electoral districts: the ruling Republican Party of Armenia has secured 60.09% of the votes (27,323), Prosperous Armenia 18.31% (8,324), Barev Yerevan bloc 8.44% (3,836), Armenian National Congress 4.55% (2,067), ARFD 4.11% (1,870), Orinats Yerkir 3.78% (1,720), Arakelutyun 0.73% (332).

 Տպավորությունը Երևանի ավագանու տեղի ունեցած ընտրություններից ծայաստիճան բացասական է: Այս մասին ԱրմԻնֆո գործակալության թղթակցի հետ զրույցում հայտարարել է ՙԺառանգություն՚ կուսակցության մամուլի քարտուղար Հովսեփ Խուրշուդյանը:

ՙԸնտրությունների ընթացքում արձանագրվեցին զանգվածային խախտումներ, մասնավորապես, ընտրակաշառքների բաժանում, դիտորդների աշխատանքների խորընդոտում, լցոնումներ և կեղծարարական այլ մեթոդներ, որոնք կիրառվեցին ընտրությունների ընթացքում՚,-ընդգծել է ՙԺառանգության՚ ներկայացուցիչը:


Նրա խոսքերով, այժմ սպասում են ընտրությունների նախնական արդյունքներին, որից հետո հանդես կգան հայտարարությամբ, իսկ թե երբ կլինի այդ հայտարարությունը, այսօր կամ վաղը, նա դժվարացավ ասել:

The Central Electoral Commission of Armenia has counted votes in 31 electoral districts: the ruling Republican Party of Armenia has secured 62.73% of the votes (15,819), Prosperous Armenia 16.18% (4,081), Barev Yerevan bloc 8.11% (2,046), Armenian National Congress 4.35% (1,096), ARFD 4.15% (1,047), Orinats Yerkir 3.68% (929), Arekelutyun 0.8% (201).

The past elections into Yerevan's Elders Council were very competitive, Head of the Campaign Office of the Republican Party of Armenia, Vice Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov said during a briefing on Sunday evening.

He condemned all the violations recorded during the voting process no matter who committed them. "The police were very quick and efficient in responding to them, which proves that in Armenia transparent elections have already become an irreversible process," Sharamzanov said.

He refused to make any forecasts. He just said that if everything goes the way it is, "we will have a better Yerevan" (Better Yerevan is the campaign slogan of the RPA).

The Armenian Police are considering 81 complaints about violations during the past elections into Yerevan's Elders Council and have so far instituted 4 criminal proceedings.

The past municipal elections were the regime's new crime against its people and democracy, says the Armenian National Congress.

The party says that the past elections were very much like the previous presidential race.

"The regime used the same mechanisms: bribery, carousel voting, ballot stuffing, involvement of criminal elements. If we keep in mind the votes of the people who are absent from the country or the countrymen who were fictitiously registered in Yerevan before the elections, we will have an 80-85% turnout instead of reported 56%. It was one more crime against people and democracy, and the ruling regime will be made responsible for it," says the Armenian National Congress.

The Central Electoral Commission of Armenia has counted votes in 10 polling stations.

The ruling Republican Party of Armenia has secured 63.98% of the votes (3,773), Prosperous Armenia 17.18% (1,013), Barev Yerevan bloc
7.55% (445), ARFD 3.43% (202), Armenian National Congress 3.71% (219), Orinats Yerkir 2.81% (166), Arakelutyun 1.34% (79).

The Aware Voter SMS voting system has provided the first results of today's elections into Yerevan's Elders Council.

According to data from 1.1% of polling stations, the ruling Republican Party of Armenia has secured 57.5% of the votes, followed by Prosperous Armenia with 17.2%, Barev Yerevan with 9.3%, ARFD with 4.6%, Armenian National Congress with 4.2%, Orinats Yekir with 2.6% and Arakelutyun with 0.6%.

 We have a very bad impression of the past municipal elections, Spokesman of Heritage Party Hovsep Khurshudyan told ArmInfo on Sunday.

"We have recorded lots of violations - bribery, ballot stuffing and other illegal practices," Khurshudyan said.

He said that the party will make a statement after the preliminary results are known.

 The Republican Party of Armenia has secured most of the votes at polling stations 1/17 and 2/22.  According to ArmInfo's correspondent, at polling station 1/17 RPA secured 350 of 450 votes, Barev Yerevan 34, ARFD 22, Prosperous Armenia 13, Armenian National Congress 11, Orinats Yerkir 9 and Arakelutyun 2.

At polling station 2/22 RPA secured 284 of 470 votes, Prosperous Armenia 106, Barev Yerevan 29, Armenian National Congress 19, ARFD 11, Orinats Yerkir 5, Arakelutyun 3.

Just one of the nine complaints about inaccuracies in voters lists has proved to be true, says the website of the Police of Armenia.

"It was a technical mistake and it was corrected," says the source.

False observers were detected at some polling stations during today's elections into Yerevan's Elders ouncil, member of Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center Satenik Badeyan told journalists on Sunday.

She said that the Feb 18 presidential election was calmer than the ones held today. "Some polling stations were crammed. At some stations they used red pens, which is not legal," Badeyan said, adding that some electoral commissioners had no professional skills.

 The first ballot counted at polling station 8/09 was declared invalid because the voter wrote on it, "Don't desolate Yerevan!"

ArmInfo's correspondent reports that during the vote counting process the proxy of the Republican Party of Armenia kept shouting at the chairman of the local electoral commission and giving different instructions.