ARMENIAN PROSECUTOR GENERAL OFFICE LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO NINE ELECTION INCIDENTS

Arka News Agency, Armenia
May 14 2007

YEREVAN, May 14. /ARKA/. Armenian Prosecutor General Office has
launched investigation into nine incidents, which happened in the
course of parliamentary elections.

The Prosecutor General Office’s press service says one of these
incidents is described in National Unity opposition party’s complaints
received on May 12. The party says that on May 11 its representative,
a member of the election commission of one of polling stations,
was denied participation in ballot papers reception and sealing,
in clear breach of Electoral Code.

Another complaints received from the same party says that Abramyan,
the chairman of 24/27 polling station commission, was absent from
the process of ballot papers sealing and empowered his deputy to seal
papers. Later Ghazaryan, the head of the community, addressed threats
to the chairman and the quarrel escalated into fight.

The Prosecutor General Office says the lawyer of one of the candidates
running in 21st constituency complained about election bribes given
by two men in the street. The police took 14 passports and a list of
45 names from them. However these two men denied any wrongdoing.

Other incidents mentioned in complaints were not confirmed.

According to Central Election Commission’s latest report, Republican
Party of Armenia scored 32.8%, i.e. 457thnd 32 of 1mln 351thnd 669
votes cast on Sunday. Prosperous Armenia won 14.7% (200thnd 443)
and Dashknaktsutyun 12.7% (177thnd 192).

Only two opposition parties – Orinats Yerkir with its 6.8% or 95thnd
256 votes and Heritage with 5.8% or 80thnd 890 votes – got seats
in parliament.

The remaining 16 candidate parties and one bloc failed to cross
a five-percent benchmark (5% for parties and 7% for bloc) though
pro-governmental United Labor Party and opposition National Unity
and New Times came close to it.

Central Election Commission says 1 million 351 thousand 669 or 59.9%
have voted on polling day.

According to Armenian Police Department’s figures 2 million 285
thousand 830 people are eligible to vote in the country.

22 parties and one bloc competed for seats in National Assembly.

13 thousand 808 representatives of 53 local organization and 767
members of six international missions observed the elections.