The
deputy chairman of "Democracy" organization, jurist Hrayr Tovmasian
marks in this way the amendments in the "Electoral Code".- We
noticed that the "Electoral Code" could be considered bad, which doesn’t
include mechanisms to prevent falsifications of the elections. Have such mechanisms
been provided by the new amendments.- Unfortunately, no. It seems I have turned
into a criminal from the specialist of constitutional right. And when I examine
current amendments of the "Electoral Code", I try to guess, what they
have thought now, by what mechanism are they going to realize the falsifications.
They have mentioned for this about secrecy of voting and ordered that the ballot
box must be put into envelope. But when I write "Hrayr Tovmasian" on
the envelope, whether that envelope will be considered invalid. Nothing will be
considered, as the law that it isn’t allowed to make notice on the envelope doesn’t
determine the idea of invalid envelope. So they will look at the ballot and will
know how Hrayr Tovmasian has voted. It’s obvious for me how the mechanism of falsifications
will be organized now; great electoral bribes will be given, the main process
of voting won’t be rigged but they will check very easily how the voters have
voted.- Is electoral "carousel" excluded by these amendments?-
Just the opposite, everything is organized for it. It is possible to put a piece
of paper into the envelope, then to mark something on the ballot and change it.-
Did you criticize he order in the "Electoral Code" when the ballot was
being stamped after voting for being able to find out the result of voting? Now
this order will be reviewed.- This is an improvement, of course. But when
you improve a mechanism for another falsification it isn’t an improvement.-
What amendments do you consider as regress?- They have mentioned that the
secrecy of voting isn’t only a right but an obligation. But it is determined by
the constitution that the voting is secret. And this means that the voter doesn’t
have right to vote openly. They have simply tried to justify cases of open voting
during the referendum, as if secret voting was a right in past but now it is an
obligation. While it has always been an obligation.The opposition was fighting
to call their appointed candidates back. Now I declare that they have reached
their aim, they can call back. But it is mentioned that they can call back no
later than 20 days before the elections. But if they intend to "Buy"
the representative of the opposition party they will do it in 20 days. So nothing
is solved on this occasion.They have also determined that if the envelope
isn’t stamped it is invalid and if 100 voters have signed and got envelopes but
50 from 100 aren’t stamped, it become clear that 50 will be considered invalid
and will influence on the results of the election.Anna IsraelianThere
were dozens of examples given by Hrayr Tovmasian but we have written more essential
examples.