VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERATION COUNCIL OF RUSSIA IS SURPRISED AT THE PACE OBSERVERS’ CRITICISM CONCERNING THE PRE-ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN IN ARMENIA

Arminfo
2007-04-20 19:24:00

Alexander Torshin, the Vice Chairman of the Federation Council
of Russia and a member of the observation mission of the CIS
Interparliamentary Assembly, is surprised at the negative conclusion
given by the PACE observation mission about the course of the
pre-electoral campaign in Armenia.

At today’s press-conference A.Torshin expressed incomprehension
about the PACE conclusion which points out a passivity and an apathy
of the voters and the political field in Armenia. He recalled that
25 political parties are taking part in the election. There can be
no statements about technical shortages when the lists of voters
are placed in the Internet and there are so many other technical
innovations that other countries lack. For instance, no observers
are allowed to follow elections in Italy, and there are no lists
of voters in others countries at all, A.Torshin noted. "There are
shortages everywhere, but before criticizing one had better study
the national history and traditions of the country and get familiar
with the legislation. On the whole, everything is quite natural –
it is also democracy," he said.

On his part, Stanislav Chernyavsky, the Director of the International
Institute of Monitoring Democracy Development, pointed out that a
close cooperation is being developed between the European and CIS
observers on generalizing the standards of holding elections.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress