Today, the topic of public discussion held in “Ani Plaza” were the recommendations introduced by international and local observation organizations executing observation mission during the NA and presidential elections on May 6, 2012 and February 18, 2013, accordingly. CEC Chairman, Tigran Mukuchyan, presenting the recommendations, made a reference especially to the problems with educational institutions, and the students. Tigran Mukuchyan opined that providing school halls for conducting pre-election campaigns, especially at the expense of classes, should be banned. As for those who were expressing views with regard to universities, according to Tigran Mukuchyan, the they were thinking that the pre-election campaign is a good opportunity to meet with the students, because they are also electorates. As said by Tigran Mukuchyan, the controversial point of view was that such gatherings should not be held in the universities. As said by Tigran Mukuchyan, all the above-mentioned are still recommendations, which are not yet final. “We are trying to consider all points of view. However, as for the schools, I think, the regulations should be more stringent.”
Tigran Mukuchyan suggested not trespassing against justice, to say and take into account the fact that during the last elections, involving school students in the pre-election campaign processes, particularly forcedly bringing parents and students to meet with the candidate, and other alike drawbacks, were not many. As for similar events recorded in the villages, Tigran Mukuchyan said that often no one is forcing children to attend the meeting with the candidate; sometimes the children are curious to come voluntarily. Tigran Mukuchyan talked about the problems with the media. He said, “Incomprehensibly, obscure journalists of an indefinite website pop up to the polling stations, and I can not imagine the struggle against this negative phenomenon, I suggest you to submit what to do. We have gone to extreme freedom not to constrain ourselves, we have tried to make regulations, we have given freedom to precincts to avoid any obstacles that the journalists could do their job freely.” Talking about the cases of election bribes, and responding to allegation that the committees do not work properly, Tigran Mukuchyan said that we are often talking about the election bribes, but, for example, during the recent election in Ararat, when a citizen tried to vote for the second time, the Commission immediately prevented by operating all of its functions. As for the drawing own ballot paper, the CEC has repeatedly said that this is unacceptable, there was even such an advertisement, but… The Head of CEC Oversight-Audit Service, Sevak Hovhannisyan, also expressed his opinion about those taking election bribes. According to his words, if an intelligent man cares about the future of the country, he would not take the 5 thousand drams, “I, you, regardless of position and financial capacity, if we have this problem, then, there is one choice: to resist the temptation.” Sevak Hovhannisyan also noted that during the recent elections, many candidates, with their actions, supported the crime, saying ‘people, go and take the bribe, and then choose whomever you want’. “I suggest prosecuting those who make similar statements.” To this respect, Tigran Mukuchyan said that by doing this would mean to restrict the candidate’s freedom of expression.
Eva HAKOBYAN
