Armenian Parliament sets up election monitoring group.

Armenia’s National Assembly has set up an election monitoring group upon the initiative of speaker Samvel Nikoyan.

The group is expected to monitor observance of the Electoral Code, consider the effectiveness of the amendments thereto, as well as respond to and prevent any actions conflicting with the existing legislation.

According to a press release by the National Assembly, the parliament members decided at today’s meeting include in the group one representative from each political force running for election.

Under the proposal of the NGO representatives attending the discussion, organizations observing the electoral processes will also have a representation in the group (one member from each of the three organizations selected by the NGOs). The latter will have the same authorities as the representatives of political forces.

The discussion was attended by members of the parliamentary parties (Prosperous Armenia, Heritage, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaksutyun and Rule of Law), and the United Armenians party; the Civilitas Foundation, Counterpart International Armenia, Center for Public Dialogue and Initiatives, the US Embassy in Yerevan, Organization for Partnership and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), US Agency for International Development and the OSCE Organization for Democratic Institution and Human Rights (ODIHR).