Over 20 IPA CIS observers to watch Armenian presidential vote

YEREVAN, February 18. /ARKA/. More than twenty experts and deputies of CIS inter-parliamentary assembly will be watching the presidential vote in Armenia today, coordinator of IPA CIS observers’ group, head of national security commission of Moldavian parliament Alexander Stoyanoglo said as quoted by Novosti-Armenia.

Stoyanoglo expressed hope that the presidential ballot will be held in a correct manner, in line with the country’s laws and international standards.

He also said that IPA CIS has been conducting a long-term monitoring of the election process since a month ago. The expert group involved the CIS secretariat and the branch office of International institute for monitoring of democratic development, parliamentarism and electoral rights in IPA CIS member countries.

“We have kept exchanging information with all election-related agencies; we received and processed information from the central electoral commission, the prosecutor-general office, the police and other authorities. All that shows that the election campaign complies with the current law requirements”, Stoyanoglo said.

He also said that violations or possible violation reports are considered under a respective procedure and in time.

“We will continue monitoring into the vote process itself”, IPA CIS observer group coordinator said.

Presidential elections are being held in Armenia today. Seven nominees are running for the country’s president: incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan, former prime minister and leader of Freedom party Hrant Bagratyan, former foreign minister and leader of Heritage party Raffi Hovhannisyan, well-known Soviet dissident and leader of National Self-Determination party Paruyr Hayrikyan, ex foreign minister of Karabakh Arman Melikyan, political scientist and head of Radio Hay Andrias Ghukasyan and specialist in epic studies Vardan Sedrakyan. -0-