ARMENIAN OPPOSITION OBJECTS TO PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ELECTORAL CODE

Arminfo
5 Feb 07

Yerevan, 5 February: During the three-day session that opened in the
parliament today, MP Viktor Dallakyan proposed that the Armenian
speaker, Tigran Torosyan, should make use of his powers and not
discuss the draft laws on dual citizenship and amendments to the
Electoral Code of the Armenian Republic.

In his speech, Dallakyan said that in connection with the upcoming
[parliamentary] election, he is particularly concerned about a
provision in the draft law that gives "unregistered" citizens of
Armenia the right to take part in elections. The MP believes that
this will open wide opportunities for the authorities to rig elections.

In turn, MP Aram Sarkisyan, a member of the opposition Justice block
and the leader of the Democratic Party of Armenia, pointed out that
the issue raised by Dallakyan is very important.

However, he noted that there is a provision in the draft law that
prohibits elections from being held on the territory of Armenian
diplomatic missions abroad. "It seems the authors of the draft law have
forgotten that diplomatic missions are also Armenian territory. This
has happened because it is there that elections are held fairly, and
it can be seen clearly for whom voters cast their votes," Sarkisyan
said. He agreed with Dallakyan and proposed that the Armenian speaker
should not put the draft law to a vote.

Nevertheless, the parliamentary majority supported the proposed agenda
and voted in favour of its adoption.