Electoral Code Changes ‘Aimed at Aiding Authorities’ Far-Reaching Infringment Plans’

Passage 7 of Article 65 of the new Electoral Code drafted by the Armenian government suggests that no more than 4 media representatives and 4 observers be present at a polling station at a time. This, as stated by Ashot Melikyan, Chairman of the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression, at a press conference Thursday, is a very problematic point since it would prevent reporters and observers from reacting immediately to electoral violations taking place at the stations. 

These limitations, according to authorities, are justified by the polling stations' quite small area and the impossibility to fit dozens of media representatives there at the same time, Melikyan said, adding that the same passage also gives more power and authority to election commission heads.

“Reporters will basically have to queue to enter polling stations, and the election commission head will decide how many of them are allowed to at a time. This creates a large room for willfulness and provides commission heads with strange powers,” the speaker noted.

Another discussion participant, Hraparak newspaper editor-in-chief Arime Ohanyan stated that the government-initiated innovations give rise to speculation regarding the authorities' far-reaching infringement plans. She voiced a concern about how authorities, as in previous occasions, might authorities create fake media outlets with fake badges, and their representatives would be allowed to enter polling station instead of actual reporters.

Daniel Ioannisyan, Union of Informed Citizens NGO program coordinator, shared Ohanyan's concern; however, he stressed that the focus should not be put on this provision only since “there are far worse points that need to be addressed,” such as the issue of post-election publication of voter lists, which is still not allowed by the new code; “Obviously, these restrictions were introduced to distract our attention. Now everyone will concentrate on them, will fight against them, and as a result a number of other important issues will remain unaddressed.”