Wednesday, October 19 2016 12:32

ArmInfo. The Armenian Parliament approved the draft amendments to the Electoral Code in the first reading with 104 votes "for", 4 votes "against" and 1  abstention.  

The parliamentary opposition has already stated that it will vote  against the bill during the second reading on October 20 unless the  amendments are introduced. Head of the Prosperous Armenia Faction  Naira Zohrabyan said that the government's representative does not  introduce amendments stipulating criminalization of false testimony  about electoral fraud deliberately to fail the consensus reached  between the authorities and the opposition.  "We have persuaded the  authorities that the names of those who went to the polls should be  publicized. This is very important. By refusing to introduce  amendments about criminalization of deliberate false testimony, the  authorities are trying to fail the consensus," she said. 

Lawmaker Khachatur Kokobelyan said that the arrangement to publicize  the lists becomes senseless if the citizens do not file their  complaints about electoral violations because they fear criminal  prosecution. "It is senseless to publicize the lists if there are no  complaints about repeated voting," he stressed.   

Head of Orinats Yerkir Faction Heghine Bisharyan and member of the  Armenian National Congress Faction Gagik Jhangiryan noted that  criminal prosecution is unacceptable because the citizens can simply  fail to manage to check the facts. Bisharyan emphasized that it is  necessary to penalize repeated voting, ballot stuffing and other  deliberate crimes.   

Head of the Republican Party of Armenia Faction Vahram Baghdasaryan  said that the parliamentary majority and the Government  representatives will take into account the remarks of the opposition  forces and will present all possible options of solution at the  second reading.   

To note, on September 13, representatives of the authorities and the  opposition factions in 444 format signed a new agreement on  creating additional mechanisms of raising public confidence in  electoral processes. The new document envisages publication of the  voting citizens' lists, amendments to Criminal Code on toughening  punishment for false testimony related to election rigging,  prolongation of terms of recalculation and appeal of results, as well  as ensuring online broadcasting from polling stations during  elections. Head of Armenian National Congress faction Levon Zurabyan  said for implementing additional mechanisms of control over electoral  processes the country needed 9 mln USD, which was raised due to EU,  the USA and donor organizations' efforts.