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 Tuesday, June 9 2026 17:39
Marianna Mkrtchyan

Expert: Even OSCE observers recorded numerous violations during  elections in Armenia 

Expert: Even OSCE observers recorded numerous violations during  elections in Armenia 

ArmInfo.  Even OSCE observers have recorded numerous violations during the Armenian parliamentary elections, according to political scientist Artur  Khachikyan, a PhD in Political Science from Stanford University. 

"But there is still some good news. Concluding the topic of mass  election fraud in Armenia, good news number one is that our European  colleagues—or at least some of them—have finally awakened their  conscience. Well, at least a little, and this should be welcomed,"  the expert wrote on social media.

According to Khachikyan, even OSCE observers documented numerous  violations during the elections. To support his claim, he cited the  official statement issued by the OSCE Office for Democratic  Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), which noted: "The election  campaign was highly confrontational, marked by divisive rhetoric and  accusations of vote-buying and other electoral law violations,  leading to numerous criminal cases against opposition candidates and  activists, and discouraging many opposition supporters from actively  participating in the campaign. This, coupled with pressure on  government officials to attend ruling party events, as well as  recently introduced social and economic measures, raised concerns  about equal opportunity for participation in the election campaign."

"Bravo, colleagues. We welcome the unexpected revival of conscience  and European values in your souls.  Even you have acknowledged  numerous violations, despite the frenzied pressure from your leaders,  their unprecedented interference in our elections, and the deathly  silence of your embassies," Khachikyan stated.

By way of comparison, he noted that during the elections in Belarus,  European observers sharply criticized the government for arresting  and intimidating candidates, creating unequal campaign conditions,  suppressing freedom of speech, and monopolizing the media.

"But what is forbidden in Belarus is, it turns out, allowed and even  encouraged in Armenia," Khachikyan concluded. "Sort out your double  standards and drop your masks, our 'democratic' friends; otherwise,  you might get completely confused. Then new facts emerged: 17,000  ballots were declared invalid (compared to 4,500 or 4,700 during the  previous elections). It's statistically impossible for this figure to  quadruple by chance. Statistics are an exact science; such things  don't happen by accident. This means these ballots were deliberately  disqualified. Furthermore, the Tsarukyan party discovered that over a  hundred ballots had been stolen from it to prevent it from entering  parliament. The vote count was stopped overnight, and the results  were falsified in the morning," the professor added.

Among other alleged irregularities, Khachikyan cited the mobilization  of soldiers to rig the election through multiple group-voting  schemes, as well as the intimidation of Armenian citizens arriving at  the airport from abroad. He also claimed that hundreds of opposition  party members were arrested both before and during the elections.   Furthermore, Khachikyan highlighted widespread interference by local  administration officials, noting pervasive voter intimidation,  direction, and surveillance. According to him, government  representatives were personally present at polling stations to  oversee and direct instances of group voting.

According to Khachikyan, there is documented evidence of widespread  interference in Armenia's internal affairs by foreign  leaders—specifically from Europe and the United States. He further  alleged that state funds were used to bribe voters through the  distribution of pensions and medical care, and that state television  was leveraged for one-sided, pro-government propaganda.  "This is the  kind of victory celebrated yesterday by those who stole our people's  votes," Khachikyan stated.  "And for those who voted for this regime  with fanatical zeal, I can give you additional joy: today, all of  Azerbaijan congratulated you. Be proud of yourselves, your sense of  dignity, and your honor." He continued with sharp criticism regarding  the geopolitical implications of the vote: "Those who killed 5,000  young men—who so unfairly gave their young lives for your vile,  selfish, cowardly souls—rejoiced in your victory and congratulated  you. One of them openly rejoiced and boasted about how they broke and  humiliated 50% of Armenians, forcing them to love their neighbors.  Rejoice. And he is right to rejoice in your humiliation—you chose  this yourselves, and therefore, you deserve it. Celebrate with your  neighbors and continue groveling."

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