EPDE together with HCAV  and  TIAC as well as experts from the citizen observers’ coalitions Independent Observer and Akanates will present the findings and conclusion on the election campaign to the Early Parliamentiary Elections in Armenia.

ISFED can conclude that the tabulation of votes was mostly conducted in compliance with relevant electoral procedures. A  number of violations was reported during counting of votes, such as, improper filling of summary protocols and other procedural shortcomings.

ISFED highlights noticeable increase of new social and infrastructural projects announced after the first round of elections,  which leave the impression of abuse of administrative voters ahead of elections.

ISFED, GYLA and TI-Georgia presented joint pre-election statement, highlighting the major trends of the pre-election campaign. The domestic observer organizations released the joint statement day prior to the elections.

The organization highlights election administration composition process and challenges associated with the conduct of election campaign on social media as main issues of attention. 

Promo-LEX and several other members of the Civic Coalition call the urgent repeal of CEC Decision, complicating the election observers' accreditation and activity. 

In an open letter to Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Prosecutor General Yury Chaika, dozens of German scientists and representatives of think tanks protest against the listing of EPDE as “undesirable organisation”.

The use of administrative resources and irregularities in electoral campaign financing persist, according to the second Promo-LEX report on monitoring the new local elections.

This issue concerns the establishment of a working group to prepare for the second reading of the draft Electoral Code and the appointment process of new members of the Central Election Commission.

The listing of EPDE as „undesirable foreign organisation“ in Russia limits, in the first instance, the rights of Russian citizen election observers and isolates them from international election observation.

EPDE has become the target of orchestrated smear and defamation campaigns by the Russian media in the run-up to the Russian presidential election.

The German-Russian Exchange (DRA) declares solidarity with EPDE and IESC, and their striving to promote independent non-governmental international election observation, which can contribute to the legitimacy of fair elections.

“Golos” experts analysed information from long-term observers in the regions as well as information from the media and the crowdsourcing service "Map of Violations."

On 18 February 2018, the local elections in Belarus were over. Independent Belarusian media once again reported high turnout, while voters generally show little interest.

Administrative resources  were actively  used  by current deputies taking part in official  events, which was justified by the district election commissions. This created unequal conditions for  other candidates. 

Although declaring early election is in line with the Constitution and the Election Code of the country, it is against the principles of democratic constitutionalism and periodicity of elections.

The Batory Foundation wishes to express a deepest concern and to draw attention to the threats connected with the change of electoral rules implemented by the Act dated 11^th January 2018.

Current legislative restrictions on the right to be elected president that relate to previous convictions and the need for the presidential nominee to have a valid residence permit, are excessive, unfair, and undemocratic.

Observers of the campaign “Human Rights Defenders For Free Elections” report that the election commissions in most cases did not create obstacles to the registration of nomination groups.

The fact that the application for registration of the Initiative Group for conducting a legislative referendum was rejected, puts in doubt the citizens’ right to directly exercise sovereignty. Promo-LEX Association is alarmed by the trends that take shape in the society.

The Court has misinterpreted the content of the claim and rejected it. HCAV will appeal the decision of the Court upon receiving it.