YEREVAN, February 20. /ARKA/. The Armenian government approved today the release of  3.477 billion drams from its Reserve Fund for holding a referendum on constitutional changes.

Earlier this month Armenia’s National Assembly, by a vote of 88 to 15, passed a bill approving a national referendum to amend the country’s constitution. The referendum seeks to modify Article 213 of the constitution and thus allow for the early termination of powers of Constitutional Court chairman Hrayr Tovmasyan and six other Court members.

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian signed a decree on February 9 setting April 5 as the date for the vote.  Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has accused the seven judges of the Court of maintaining ties to Armenia’s former leadership and impeding reforms aimed at creating an independent judiciary.

Campaigning for the referendum started on February 17 and is to end on April 3. According to Finance Minister Atom Janjughazyan, 2.553 billion drams will be provided to the Central Election Commission for the organization of the referendum and another 660 million drams are supposed to be spent on installing online video surveillance systems in 1.5 thousand polling stations. He also said that another 234 million drams will be allocated to the Police.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will take part in campaign to ask his fellow citizens to say 'yes' to the proposed changes. The campaign's headquarters will be speared by Minister of Territorial Development and Infrastructures Suren Papikyan.

The parliamentary opposition parties said they would boycott the referendum, however several dozens of lawyers announced their intention several days ago to campaign against the changes. ($1 – 478.63 dram). –0–