Today, on 12 July, during the examination of the applications to challenge the results of the 20 June extraordinary elections, the representative of the “Armenian’s Homeland” Party Artak Galstyan asked a question to the Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission Tigran Mukuchyan.

“When the law clearly states that the CEC has the authority to make a decision on documents other than ballots and stamps. By what legal norm were you guided that you changed the essence of the law, the whole regulation of the law, not having such authority by the Electoral Code? ”

In response to the question, Tigran Mukuchyan said,

“We are not inclined to think that we do not have that authority, the norm has been clarified in such a way, what is the purpose of placing the ballots and other items in fireproof cabinets or in the voting room in order to preserve their integrity?”

In this case, in the electoral process, according to the norms defined by the Code, there are many tools that need much higher protection. As for the ballots, we have already mentioned that taking into account the volume of the ballots, if much more non-flammable items were placed, it would simply not be possible to fit them all in the safes, the commission decided that they could be placed in the voting room and the room will be handed over for protection.

Due to that, we have not had a single case where, for example, there was a loss of ballots. That is the purpose of this norm.”

The “Armenian’s Homeland” Party mentioned as essential circumstances that the general, equal, free and direct suffrage was not was not ensured in the electoral process, the secrecy of the elections was not observed, the ballot papers were not preserved as prescribed by law, during the pre-election campaign by other candidates a total use of administrative resources, widespread electoral bribery took place, etc.

It should be reminded that “Armenia”, “I have the Honor”, “Awakening” and “ Armenians’ Homeland” parties are disputing the election results. Their applications are considered in a single joint case.

Judge of the Constitutional Court Edgar Shatiryan has been appointed rapporteur on the case. The respondent is the CEC, the body that records the election results. Related defendants are the RA Prosecutor’s Office, the Police and the Television and Radio Commission.