Armenian election day calm and orderly in general, US State department spokesperson says
20.02.2013,
13:05
In general, Armenian election day was calm and orderly, US State department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told a daily press briefing.
YEREVAN, February 20. /ARKA/. In general, Armenian election day was calm and orderly, US State department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told a daily press briefing.
Nuland said the U.S. supports the conclusions of the OSCE ODIHR observer mission in their preliminary conclusions that the elections were generally well administered with fundamental freedoms respected.
Nuland also said the State Department agrees that the media fulfilled their legal obligation to provide balanced coverage and all contestants made use of their free air time.
However, she said, there were some serious violations that obviously need to be investigated.
"ODIHR was concerned about some lack of impartiality on the part of public administration officials and the misuse of administrative resources that resulted in a blurred distinction between the activities of the state and those of the ruling party" Nuland said.
According to the ballot count results from all 1,988 polling stations Armenia’s incumbent president Sezrh Sargsyan won the re-election Monday with 861,378 votes or 58.64%. Raffi Hovannisian polled 539,674 votes or 36.74%, Hrant Bagratyan - 31,643 votes or 2.15%, Paruyr Hayrikyan - 18,093 votes or 1.23%, Andrias Ghukasyan - 8,328 votes or 0.57%, Arman Melikyan - 3,520 votes or 0.24% and Vardan Sedrakyan – 6,203 votes or 0.42%.
CIS and European observers gave a positive opinion of the presidential elections in Armenia, called them democratic and legitimate, noting some violations, which had no impact on the election results. -0-
