It can already be recorded that the first elections under Nikol Pashinyan aren’t free: Armen Ashotyan
Armen Ashotyan writes on his Facebook page: “In an interview with Le Monde Nikol Pashinyan expressed opinion that elections of Yerevan city mayor will be unprecedented in the history of Armenia.
A week is still left for the elections, but let me introduce current range of facts proving zero connection of PM’s statement with the reality.
1. At the meeting of PM’s 100 days, organized by state budget means, Nikol Pashinyan didn’t have an aversion to propagate his candidate.
2. On the first day of campaign two members of “Heritage” party were detained.
3. By PM’s instruction one of PAP candidates was involved in the operation of “laying to the ground” and later on this episode was used for anti-propaganda.
4. The candidate of the leading power initiated the campaign of intolerance and hatred by dividing the society into white-and-blacks.
5. Nikol Pashinyan not only condemned this episode but more deepened it striking a new tide of anti-propaganda and threats.
6. The PM, using his office opportunities, is personally involved in propagating his candidate. He attempted to draw parallel lines with our years, deliberately not voicing that there were no similar facts at local self-government elections.
7. Compared to the previous ones, there will be no observers from European organizations.
8. Apparent unequal media coverage exists amid the authorities and other powers, which is more expressive on the internet. By the way there is no any data on free media monitoring to date.
9. The level of anti-propaganda and black propaganda is unprecedented, in particular, on social networks, which is accompanied and encouraged by propagandistic apparatus of the leadership.
10. To date there are no public disputes between the candidates. They used to blame us in this, however, they continue stubbornly manifesting the same manner.
11. There was a street attack and skirmish on CEC head, which wasn’t covered by power media.
12. It’s already known that formerly installed cameras won’t function in the polling stations, which is obvious regress compared to the elections of 2017.
To sum up, it can already be recorded that under Nikol Pashinyan the first large elections aren’t free.”
