ONLY 2% OF ARMENIAN POLLING STATIONS ACCESSIBLE TO DISABLED PERSONS WITH LOCOMOTOR PROBLEMS

Noyan Tapan
Jan 28, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, NOYAN TAPAN. Only 2% of polling stations in
Armenia are accessible to disabled persons with problems of the
locomotor system, including those moving in wheelchairs, Armen
Alaverdian, the chairman of Unison NGO dealing with prolems of the
disabled, said during a talk with NT correspondent. Out of nearly
145 thousand disabled Armenian cistizens who have the right to vote,
about 3 thousand move in wheelchaires. According to A. Alaverdian, no
steps have been taken in recent years in order to solve this problem.

The head of the Legal Expert Examination Unit of the RA Central
Electoral Commission (CEC) Sevak Hovhannisian explained that under a
decision of the CEC, community heads are obliged to make the polling
stations accessible to disabled persons. However, in his words,
no responsibility is envisaged for nonfulfilment of this decision.

A. Alaverdian said that 13 members of their NGO have been accredited
to implement observer mission in Yerevan, Spitak and Meghri during
the presidential elections.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress