February 20, 2003 - 19:11 AMT
STATEMENT OF OPPOSITION CANDIDATES VIOLATION OF ARMENIAN ELECTORAL CODE, CIS OBSERVER CONSIDERS
The statement submitted to the central electoral commission by opposition candidates for Armenian president before finishing the vote is a violation of the Republic of Armenia Electoral Code currently in force. Member of the CIS observation mission at the Armenian presidential elections Constantine Merkulov said at a press conference today. In his words, there is no clear argumentation in the statement and "the document is of rather declarative and political nature." "Such statements should be made at a more serious level," - Merkulov noted. CIS mission representatives suppose such statements should be considered by court. The CIS mission member also reported that 500 blank ballots had been discovered at the electoral headquarters of candidate for president, chairman of the Democratic party of Armenia Aram Sargsian. "Legal action on the criminal case is already brought," - Merkulov said. Let us remind that the opposition candidates announced yesterday there were "mass violations in the course of the elections."