In Armenia, cases of transporting people to the polling stations in minibuses with yellow state registration plates have been registered in Armenia again, Armenia Today said.
According to the Civil Society Institute NGO, groups of people were delivered in yellow minibuses with 0858s state numbers to polling stations 9/27 and 9/28 between 09:45-10:45. In addition, the organisation registered a number of other violations of the Electoral Commission.
In particular, the organisation's observer at polling station 9/15 noticed that the head of the electoral commission wears the badge of the Republican Party of Armenia.
At polling station 9/4 in Yerevan, chairman of the commission left the polling station explaining it was his intention to vote and promised to return in 10 minutes. According to the Electoral Code of Armenia, while the natural course of voting at polling station is provided by head of commission, the code does not specify who should organize the work in his absence.
The organisation's observer registered a public gathering at the polling station 14/21. He appealed to the chairman of the commission who dispersed the crowd by taking some people out. Under paragraph 33 of Art. 63 of the Electoral Code not more than 15 people should be present at the polling stations.
The sixth Armenian presidential election is being held today Feb.18, from 08:00 to 20:00 local time. The head of state is elected for five years.
Those running for the presidency are the incumbent president and ruling Republican Party leader Serzh Sargsyan, former Prime Minister Grant Bagratyan, chairman of the Heritage Party Raffi Hovhannisyan, Paruyr Hayrikyan, Arman Melikyan, Andrias Ghukasyan and Vardan Setrakyan.