CHARGES INTRODUCED TO CHAIRMAN OF THE PRECINCT ELECTORAL COMMISSION 13/16

According to the communication of the RA General Prosecutor’s Office of June 27, the Chairman of the Precinct Electoral Commission 13/16 of Erebuni community of Yerevan Vasil Afian was charged on Article 149 of the RA Criminal Code (“Obstruction of the realization of the right to vote, the work of electoral commissions or the competence of people taking part in elections”). The case was directed to the court of general jurisdiction of Erebuni and Nubarashen communities of Yerevan. According to the investigation materials, in the afternoon of February 19, 2008, on the day of Armenian presidential elections, correspondent of “Haikakan Zhamanak” Lusineh Barseghian and observer Armen Martirosian (RA National Assembly Deputy of “Heritage” party - Ed. Note) arrived at the precinct 13/16 to verify a report of violations - being, as the investigation materials state, “engaged in journalistic and observation missions, respectively, within the limits of their competence”. The Chairman of the Commission refused to answer the questions of the journalist, prohibited taking pictures of him and ordered for Lusineh Barseghian to be dismissed from the precinct, thus violating the legal right of the journalist to be at the precinct. Through the efforts of Armen Martirosian the correspondent of “Haikakan Zhamanak” returned to the precinct and continued her work. Then the Chairman of the Commission ordered the police officers to put out of the precinct not only Lusine Barseghian but also Armen Martirosian. Thus, the investigation materials say, the Commission Chairman impeded the competence of the journalist and the observer.

Source Publication:
Source: http://www.ypc.am/eng/?go=newsletter/2008/june_eng/27_3

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