ArmInfo. On April 2, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, accompanied by the representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church, voted at the 14/11 polling station in Etchmiadzin. "We have voted for kindness and we are sure these elections will provide our people with progress, development, peaceful and safe life," he told reporters. "God bless out country and Armenians worldwide," Karekin II said.
Parliamentary elections in Armenia started on April 2, at 8 am. These are the first elections after the constitutional reforms implying transition from the semi-presidential to the parliamentary form of government. 9 political forces run in the elections: 4 blocs (Yelq, Tsarukyan, Ohanyan-Raffi- Oskanian and Congress-PPA), and 5 parties (Republican Party of Armenia, Communist Party, Free Democrats, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, Armenian Renaissance). 1500 candidates are running under the rating-based system. 49 local organizations (28 thsd observers) and 6 international organizations (OSCE/ODIHR, OSCE PA, PACE, CIS, CIS PA and European Parliament, with the total number of observers being 640) are observing the elections. As many as 1244 reporters from 89 local media outlets and 80 representatives of 31 foreign media outlets have been accredited to cover the elections.