ArmInfo. The Armenian Parliament approved the draft amendments to the Electoral Code in the first reading with 104 votes "for", 4 votes "against" and 1 abstention.
The parliamentary opposition has already stated that it will vote against the bill during the second reading on October 20 unless the amendments are introduced. Head of the Prosperous Armenia Faction Naira Zohrabyan said that the government's representative does not introduce amendments stipulating criminalization of false testimony about electoral fraud deliberately to fail the consensus reached between the authorities and the opposition. "We have persuaded the authorities that the names of those who went to the polls should be publicized. This is very important. By refusing to introduce amendments about criminalization of deliberate false testimony, the authorities are trying to fail the consensus," she said.
Lawmaker Khachatur Kokobelyan said that the arrangement to publicize the lists becomes senseless if the citizens do not file their complaints about electoral violations because they fear criminal prosecution. "It is senseless to publicize the lists if there are no complaints about repeated voting," he stressed.
Head of Orinats Yerkir Faction Heghine Bisharyan and member of the Armenian National Congress Faction Gagik Jhangiryan noted that criminal prosecution is unacceptable because the citizens can simply fail to manage to check the facts. Bisharyan emphasized that it is necessary to penalize repeated voting, ballot stuffing and other deliberate crimes.
Head of the Republican Party of Armenia Faction Vahram Baghdasaryan said that the parliamentary majority and the Government representatives will take into account the remarks of the opposition forces and will present all possible options of solution at the second reading.
To note, on September 13, representatives of the authorities and the opposition factions in 444 format signed a new agreement on creating additional mechanisms of raising public confidence in electoral processes. The new document envisages publication of the voting citizens' lists, amendments to Criminal Code on toughening punishment for false testimony related to election rigging, prolongation of terms of recalculation and appeal of results, as well as ensuring online broadcasting from polling stations during elections. Head of Armenian National Congress faction Levon Zurabyan said for implementing additional mechanisms of control over electoral processes the country needed 9 mln USD, which was raised due to EU, the USA and donor organizations' efforts.