RA Human Rights Defender`s Office reports violations in Gyumri,  Parakar elections  

ArmInfo.The Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia reported on violations recorded on March 30, the day of the snap elections to local self-government bodies in  the communities of Gyumri and Parakar.

As noted in the message received by ArmInfo from the Human Rights  Defender's Office, the results of the monitoring revealed a number of  problems related to the electoral process. In particular, it is noted  that the Ombudsman's Office recorded cases of incorrect direction of  voters, presence of strangers at polling stations, crowding,  violation of the secrecy of voting, improper equipment of polling  stations, absence of voter lists in conspicuous places at polling  stations and other problems.

In addition, on the instructions of the Defender, more than 300  publications in the media and social networks about violations during  the elections to the Council of Elders of Gyumri were checked.

"The Office of the Human Rights Defender has carefully studied the  information about possible obstacles to the work of journalists and  observers. In addition, at the request of the Human Rights Defender,  monitoring visits were conducted to precinct centers to assess the  accessibility of the electoral process for people with disabilities,"  the statement says.

It is noted that representatives with disabilities also took part in  the unannounced monitoring visit. In this regard, the Ombudsman's  Office recorded problems related to the territory, buildings adjacent  to the precinct center, the condition of the voting rooms, the  accessibility of the premises in connection with the selected floor,  problems with lighting and the availability of sanitary facilities.

It is also reported that these problems were also reflected in the  list of accessible and partially accessible precinct centers  published on the website of the Central Election Commission.

The Ombudsman's Office also reported that due to the lack of a  legislative opportunity to participate in voting through a mobile  polling station, one of the citizens was unable to leave home and  exercise his right to vote due to disability. In addition, according  to the source, a high level of hatred, discriminatory statements and  social polarization were recorded during the election processes.

In conclusion, the statement of the human rights defender emphasizes  that all recorded problems will be summarized and sent to the  competent state bodies for further consideration and action.

On March 30 of this year, early elections were held to the Council of  Elders of Gyumri in the Shirak region and Parakar in the Armavir  region. According to preliminary estimates, the ruling Civil Contract  party is in the lead in Gyumri, having gained 35.47% of the votes,  followed by the Communist Party of Armenia (18.41%) and the Our City  bloc (16.04%). Despite the fact that the representative of the ruling  party gained the largest number of votes, nevertheless, his political  force did not overcome the necessary 50+1 vote threshold for the sole  election of the mayor. Thus, if the opposition forces form a  coalition, Gyumri may have an opposition mayor.

In Parakar, according to preliminary data, candidate Volodya  Grigoryan from the Unity bloc won, having secured the support of more  than 56% of voters.