COPENHAGEN, 15 June 2021 – Some 80 observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly will deploy this week to Armenia for the 20 June early parliamentary elections. The OSCE PA observers will work closely with colleagues from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Margareta Cederfelt, Vice-President of the OSCE PA, will serve as Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission, following an appointment by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde.
“These elections are an important opportunity for the Armenian people to express their voices, and for the country to demonstrate its commitment to democratic development and reform,” Cederfelt said. “We are looking forward to working closely with our long-standing partners, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in lending our contribution in accompanying Armenia’s democratic path.”
President Peter Lord Bowness has appointed Kari Henriksen, Vice-President of the OSCE PA and Rapporteur of the human rights committee, to lead the OSCE PA observer delegation.
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“I am very proud that for these elections we are able to deploy record high numbers of observers since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the numerous challenges it poses. I would like to thank all my fellow observers for their dedication and readiness to respond to Armenia’s invitation to observe these important elections,” said Henriksen. “Our observers will of course follow all necessary precautions to protect the health of observers, voters, and election officials, while following our usual observation procedures as much as possible.”
The mission is assessing the elections against democratic commitments contained in the OSCE’s 1990 Copenhagen Document. Observers will be briefed by election administrators, experts, political party representatives, and civil society representatives for two days prior to election day. The leaders of the mission will deliver the post-election statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference in Yerevan on 21 June, which will stream live on the OSCE PA website, www.oscepa.org.