ArmInfo.During the first nine hours of voting at the early elections to the Armenian parliament, the observer mission from the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly (IPA) did not register any serious violations.
"The [electoral process] is proceeding quite calmly, in a business-like manner; observers from our mission have not revealed any comments or significant shortcomings," mission coordinator Igor Komarovsky told TASS.
He said that the IPA CIS mission had a meeting with observers from the OSCE / ODIHR, who also stated that they had not identified any serious violations. According to Komarovsky, the revealed minor violations were of a technical nature - identifying the identity of the voter, issuing ballots. Extraordinary elections to the National Assembly of the 8th convocation were held in Armenia today. From 08.00am local time, 2008 polling stations were opened throughout the republic in 38 territorial districts. 479 are located in Yerevan, another 1529 - in the regions. According to the Armenian police, 2 million 578 thousand 678 people are registered in the voter register. 2.578 million citizens have the right to participate in elections - more than 855 thousand in Yerevan. Polling stations closed at exactly 8:00pm Yerevan time. The vote counting process has started.
25 political forces are taking part in the elections: 4 blocs and 21 parties: "Fair Armenia" party; "Armenian National Congress"; party "Civil Contract"; the national-Christian party "Zartonk" (Awakening - ed.); the party "Freedom"; bloc "I have the honor"; party "United Homeland"; the party "All-Armenian National Statehood"; party "Bright Armenia"; the party "Our Home is Armenia"; Party "Republic"; the party "Armenian Motherland"; bloc "Free Motherland"; Prosperous Armenia Party; Democratic Party of Armenia; party "National Conservative Movement 5165"; Social Democratic Party "Citizen's Decision"; Alliance of Democrats Shirinyan-Babajanyan bloc; party "National Agenda"; party "Rise"; party "Azatakan" (Liberal - ed. note); European Party of Armenia; bloc "Armenia"; the party "National - Democratic Pole"; party "Sovereign Armenia". The elections were held on a 100% proportional system. The entry barrier for parties is set at 5%, for alliances - 7%. There is no turnout threshold.