Criminal Case Initiated Against Referendum Observer for ‘Hindering Commission’s Work’

Armenia's Investigative Committee has initiated criminal proceedings against civic activist Vardges Gaspari based on a complaint filed by the head of the election commission at 9/15 polling station in Yerevan for “obstructing the work of the election commission” during the December 6 referendum on draft constitutional amendments. A corresponding article of Armenia’s Criminal Code envisages a fine in the amount of 200 to 400 times the minimum salary, or an up to 1-month imprisonment.

According to the complaint, Gaspari, who was stationed at the precinct as an observer, “clamored, cursed periodically,” causing hindrance to the implementations of the election commission's work.

Recall, the observer was detained and held in police custody for more than three hours on Sunday. Speaking to Epress.am, the observer had said he had been recording mass violations at the two polling stations where he was stationed – 9/15 and 9/16 – since early morning. Gaspari had added that violations were especially gross at 9/15 precinct, and all his attempts to report them to the head of the election commission of the said precinct were fruitless. On the contrary, the commission head, unable to reign in the observer and prevent him from protesting against the violations, complained about his actions to the chief of the community police.