Violation Registered by Prosperous Armenia Party: Election Monitoring Committee

The Election Monitoring Committee reports that as a result of complaints from citizens, on June 7, the day the pre-election campaign commenced, the committee registered a violation by the Prosperous Armenia Party.

Specifically, in various public locations in the Ararat region, the following statement was observed: "On the instruction of the leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party, Gagik Tsarukyan, representatives from the Masis brandy-wine factory will be in all villages of the Artashat region starting June 6 and will individually sign agreements for grape procurement. We ask everyone not to trouble themselves and not to go to the factory for contracts. Prosperous Armenia Party office, 7 Yerevanyan Street, opposite St. John’s Church."

According to Article 19, Part 6 of the RA Electoral Code, during the pre-election campaign... candidates and political parties participating in the elections are prohibited from giving (promising) money, food, securities, goods, or providing (promising) services to voters free of charge or on preferential terms, either personally or on their behalf, or in any other way.

It is clear that making such an offer to grape growers on behalf of the Prime Ministerial candidate of the Prosperous Armenia Party represents a promise of services for grape procurement during the pre-election campaign, which is prohibited by law. The Election Monitoring Committee calls on the Prosperous Armenia Party to eliminate the specified violation and to conduct the pre-election campaign in accordance with established procedures.