Violations That Could Significantly Impact Voting Results, Says Daniel Ioannisyan

In Martakert and Stepanakert, the use of cameras has clearly revealed the circulation of additional papers in polling booths by voters, resembling the carousel of ballots. A report on these incidents has been submitted to the Prosecutor's Office of Artsakh regarding the crime. This was stated by Daniel Ioannisyan, head of the NGO 'Informed Citizens Union' and the general observation mission, during a meeting with journalists in Artsakh on April 15.

“The electoral commissions predominantly showed a rather poor grasp of electoral legislation and decisions of the CEC. Nevertheless, the electoral commissions were generally willing to work with mobile observers, and many issues arising from ignorance were corrected within the framework of cooperation. Although significant violations were recorded by the Artsakh police regarding the management, compilation, and publication of electoral lists during the first phase of the elections, as well as the inclusion of the same person in two lists, there was no recurrence of these issues in the second phase. Duplicate individuals were not found in the voter lists, and the lists were fully published, unlike in the first phase,” said Ioannisyan.

According to him, voter participation rates were higher in rural areas compared to the first phase: “It is quite concerning that while the turnout in urban areas during the first phase was 70%, and in rural areas, it was 76%, in the second phase, it dropped to 35% in urban areas and 56% in rural areas, a difference of 21%.”

Ioannisyan noted that the 'Witness' observation mission raised concerns regarding the use of administrative resources and philanthropy accompanying campaigning. “Often this philanthropy was carried out within the framework of construction and other state programs, but it was presented to residents as support provided by one of the candidates. These circumstances give reason to believe that there was illegal influence on the will of the voters under electoral legislation,” he added.

Despite the violations, Ioannisyan acknowledged that the elections in Artsakh were conducted under competitive conditions, but the level of fairness significantly differs from the demands presented to democratic societies. “In both the pre-election period and in the first and second phases of the elections, there were violations that could have a significant impact on the results of both the National Assembly and the presidential voting,” said Ioannisyan.

It should be noted that in the second round of the presidential elections in Artsakh, the former Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan and the current Foreign Minister Masis Mayilian were competing. According to CEC data, 88% of voters voted in favor of former Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan.