The European Commission for Democracy through Law, better known as the Venice Commission, welcomes the amendments to the Electoral Code of Armenia, which will allow guaranteeing free and fair elections in the country, Simona Granata-Menghini, Deputy Secretary of the Commission, said at a press conference in Strasbourg.
The Venice Commission participated in the preparation of the Electoral Code of Armenia, which was adopted in spring 2011. The Commission provided its consultation, and the main changes in the system concern the staff of the Central Electoral Commission and the constituencies. According to the amendments, the members of electoral commissions will not be appointed by the political parties, she said.
Simona Granata-Menghini stressed that in earlier reports of the OSCE/ODIHR the elections in Armenia were criticized, because the staff of the electoral commissions, particularly, the Central Electoral Commission failed to guarantee fair elections. She added that it was not the Venice Commission that recommended the amendments, but this was the Armenian authorities' choice, and the Commission thinks that potentially this is a good system, which will allow guaranteeing free and fair elections in Armenia.
As regards other amendments to the Electoral Code, the expert pointed out the positive changes in the item concerning the system of complaints against the decisions on electoral disputes. She stressed the significance of practice and implementation of law, as well as the political will. Simona Granata-Menghini added that the law on religious organizations is currently being considered at the Venice Commission and ODIHR. The religious organizations are regulated in Armenia, and both Venice Commission and ODIHR criticized the authorities for that, she said. In case of certain international standards, the religious organizations may be controlled, but this must not restrict the persons' right to freedom of religion, she said.
