Freedom House calls on Armenia to conduct democratic elections

PanARMENIAN.Net - Mayoral elections in Yerevan will become the first significant voting since Serzh Sargsyan's victory in presidential elections last year, Freedom House official website reports.

According to the statement, last years' election results caused accusations of voting falsifications and lead to collision between police and opposition demonstrators. According to Freedom House European Department Director, Vladimir Shkolnikov, Municipal elections in Yerevan open wide possibilities to restore the citizens' trust towards democratic process.

After independence declaration in Armenia, Mayoral elections in Yerevan will be the first ones conducted via voting, instead of presidential appointment. Millennium Challenge Corporation, which has frozen part of USD236 million financial assistance package after RA Presidential elections, will be observing the election process

3 candidates are running for Yerevan Mayor. First runners-up are Republican party's candidate, City Administration employee Gagik Beglaryan and RA NC candidate, ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who was the main competitor of Sezh Sargsyan at last year's presidential elections.