ArmInfo. Head of Armenian National Congress Faction Levon Zurabyan expressed concerns that the authorities will not allow organizing online broadcasting from polling stations during the parliamentary elections in 2017, he stated about this at the parliament today.
According to the politician information is spread in certain circles that during the elections uninterrupted broadcasting will be announced impossible for technical reasons. "If the authorities state about this on the threshold of the elections this will mean that they intentionally hamper this process, in order to rig the elections, as it is online broadcasting that is the main guarantee of fair elections", he stressed.
In her turn Head of Heritage faction Zaruhi Postanjyan stated that the new Electoral Code does not contribute to holding fair elections. Particularly, she noted that preferential voting allows oligarchs to maintain power and enter new parliament. "The new Electoral Code will become regular mechanism for the authorities to maintain their power", she noted.
To note, on September 13, representatives of authorities and oppositionist factions in 444 format signed new agreement on creating additional mechanisms of raising public confidence towards elections. Parliament of Armenia passed alterations and amendments to the Election Code with 102 votes "for," 4 votes "against" and 4 "abstentions," on October 20. Minister, Head of Government Administration David Harutyunyan, noted that the main amendment relates to scanning electoral lists signed by the voted citizens and their publication on the website of Central Electoral Commission. This is done to control the process of citizens' participation in the voting and not to allow double voting or voting by false documents. Harutyunyan noted that this amendment contradicts to the norms of Venice Commission, however the authorities have agreed to this step in order to restore citizens' confidence towards electoral processes. The second important amendment made in the document relates to installment of video cameras in the polling stations for controlling the electoral process. Broadcasting will be online and video materials will be archived. Special commission comprised of representatives from the authorities, political forces and civil society will purchase the equipment. 15 mln EUR is needed for purchasing video equipment, the Armenian government agreed to allocate 3 mln, while donor organizations promised to provide the remaining funds. Harutyunyan informed that as for now only the Armenian government has fulfilled its financial obligation.