“You cannot be chairman of the CEC”: Narek Karapetyan to Vahagn Hovakimyan

Narek Karapetyan, head of the Strong Armenia faction, addressed Vahagn Hovakimyan, Chairman of Armenia’s Central Election Commission, during a National Assembly session.

“During a meeting with European observer groups, when we were asked about the situation ahead of the elections, about how the process was going, we noted that this process was quite interesting. We also presented your biography and said that we have a very balanced and impartial candidate, that we have a CEC chairman who treats everyone equally. Then we said that, nevertheless, there is one shortcoming: you worked at a company personally owned by the head of the ruling political force. We also said that you were a member of that force before becoming chairman of the CEC,” he said.

The MP stressed that Hovakimyan cannot serve as head of the CEC.

“You cannot be chairman of the CEC, you should not be chairman of the CEC — you clearly demonstrate the absence of mechanisms of balance in our country,” he said.