The OSCE / ODIHR launches an observation mission in Armenia

The main staff of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) headed by the head of the delegation Eogan Murphy has arrived in Armenia to observe the early parliamentary elections to be held on June 20.

According to the information published on the official website of the OSCE, the monitoring mission will include 11 international experts from 9 member countries of the organization. They will be in Yerevan. In addition, the ODIHR was asked to send 24 long-term observers to Armenia. From May 26, they will be located in different parts of the republic.

The mission will assess the extent to which the elections are conducted in accordance with international commitments – the standards of democratic elections, national legislation, as well as commitments agreed by the OSCE participating States.

The observers will study in detail the legal regulations, their implementation, follow up on the campaign, the work of the electoral and governing bodies, including the registration of voters and the settlement of electoral disputes. Media monitoring will be an integral part of the monitoring.

The OSCE / ODIHR plans to request 250 short-term observers from member states to monitor the election process on election day. However, it largely depends on the developments and limitations related to the coronavirus, as well as on the healthcare regulations in Armenia.

During the observation mission, the members of the delegation will have meetings with representatives of the political forces of the authorities, the sphere of justice, civil society, mass media. On election day, the ODIHR mission will join forces with the OSCE PA delegation.

The members of the delegation that arrived in Yerevan have already started the meetings. On May 18, they were at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Acting Deputy Foreign Minister Artak Apitonyan reaffirmed Armenia’s readiness to hold fair and transparent  elections in accordance with European standards.

The monitoring mission will publish an interim report during the monitoring to provide information to the public and the media. The delegation will hold a press conference the day after the voting. The final report summarizing the observation of the entire election process will be published about two months after the end of the election process.

Full text in Armenian