American envoy threatens violators at elections in Armenia

By Azernews

By Rashid Shirinov

Almost every election in Armenia since the country gained independence back in 1991 has witnessed violations.

The April 2 parliamentary elections also saw widespread corruption, systemic abuse and violence against voters. The election outcome also does not offer any changes from the current situation over issues of corruption and human rights, poverty, inequality and injustice prevailing in the country.

U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills has announced that those persons, who interfered with the electoral process at the parliamentary election in Armenia on April 2, won’t be authorized to take part in the programs funded by the U.S. government.

“We may use available trustworthy information and we’ll use, people diverting the election process won’t be eligible to participate in programs and events financed by the U.S. government,” he said on May 1.

The ambassador reminded that the U.S. recorded facts of bribery, pressure on voters and use of administrative resource during the election.

“Observations are in line with those of other representatives of the international community. We urged the government to launch full investigation based on all reports and all proofs of violations,” Mills said.

The ambassador added the detailed, transparent and non-political examination is important so that citizens of Armenia were sure that they may vote freely and without external pressure.

President Serzh Sargsyan's Republican Party won the parliamentary elections of April 2 by obtaining almost half of the total vote.

During and after the elections, a number of Armenian politicians, local and international observers and journalists noted that the parliamentary elections in Armenia had many violations and frauds. The observers from the Council of Europe, OSCE, the European Parliament and other international observers indicated these violations in their statement following the elections.