ARF Official Highlights Election Observers' Findings on Armenia Vote

ARF Bureau member Lilit Galstyan commented on preliminary conclusions from international election observers regarding Armenia's June 7 parliamentary elections. The observers — from the Council of Europe, PACE, and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly — documented concerns that aligned with complaints raised by opposition parties during the campaign.

Key findings included allegations of vote-buying, pressure on public sector employees to attend ruling party events, and bias by the public broadcaster favoring the ruling party. Observers also noted the campaign was marked by divisive rhetoric and that opposition candidates and activists faced criminal proceedings. The report cited concerns about equal opportunity for campaigning, restrictions on media pluralism after opposition outlets lost broadcasting licenses, and social and economic measures introduced ahead of voting that may have undermined electoral fairness. EU and U.S. leaders' public support for the prime minister was characterized as potentially constituting external involvement.