Pashinyan warns against using administrative resources in upcoming elections, vows to eradicate criminal elements

During a meeting with school principals and community leaders at the Gegharkunik Governor’s Office, caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed the upcoming early election of parliament, emphasizing that the government attaches great importance to ruling out the use of administrative resources, vote buying, and attempts to involve teachers into the electoral process.

“I would like to tell you that no one can [instruct] the citizen of Armenia on whom to vote for. Citizens ought to watch the campaigns, the speeches of representatives of political forces, familiarize themselves with the programs and make a decision regarding their vote. I’d like to say that the involvement of school principals and teachers in general in the campaigning processes must be ruled out,” Pashinyan said.

He said it is highly important to be able to reject all those methods that were previously being used.

“Of course the Electoral Code clearly defines who is entitled to campaign and who’s not, but in general I think that civil servants should restrict themselves to a certain extent in order for especially educational facilities not to be politicized”, he added.

Pashinyan stressed that administrative resources, vote buying and other similar occurrences don’t have a place in Armenia no more.

He also issued a warning to the so called criminal authorities. He emphasized that this phenomenon should also be eradicated. “If someone is a criminal element, then his place is in prison, he should either be in prison or live as a law-abiding citizen,” he said.

Pashinyan assured that all political forces will have equal opportunities for campaigning.