31.03.2003 - Source: US Department of State

Serious flaws in the 1998 presidential election ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2002") [#11840],  [ID 2874]

"Serious flaws in the 1998 presidential election continued to restrict the constitutional ability of citizens to change their government peacefully. Substantial breaches of the election law resulted in a lack of public confidence in the integrity of the overall election process. However, 1999 parliamentary elections and by-elections in 2000, 2001, and 2002, although marred by some irregularities, represented a step towards more free and fair elections. Elections in urban areas like Yerevan generally reported fewer problems than those in rural areas.
In both rounds of the 1998 presidential elections, OSCE observers witnessed substantial irregularities. There were unusually high voter turnouts in certain areas, particularly in the second round, and these increases corresponded directly to high vote percentages for then-acting President Kocharian. Based on detailed analyses of the results tracked by observers in certain districts, it appeared that ballot box stuffing, discrepancies in vote counts, the presence of large numbers of unauthorized persons at polling stations, and other fraud practices perpetrated by local power structures inflated the number of votes for Kocharian by more than 100,000 votes in the second round. Kocharian won the second round by approximately 290,000 votes. Some military units were compelled to vote without exception for Kocharian, and officials used pressure to encourage a large turnout for the "official" candidate. There were no legal consequences for electoral fraud. The Government pursued only minor violations, and no penalties were announced. There was no criminal investigation of the amply documented ballot-box stuffing."

Document(s): Open document

12.03.1998 - Source: British Helsinki Human Rights Group

Background paper on the 1998 Presidential Elections in Armenia ("Armenia 1998: Presidential Elections") [#404],  [ID 2875]

"Conclusions

The observers concluded that in their view the Second Round of the Armenian Presidential Elections was properly conducted on 30th March, 1998.

The few incidents of controversy or confusion witnessed at polling stations seemed to be the product of rumours and the heightened emotions of election day without convincing evidence of fraud. As we have seen, some instances of deliberate false accusation must be acknowledged.

The observers felt that the election commissions were conducting their tasks in a conscientious manner. The great majority of proxies for both candidates also acted in an exemplary manner despite the temptations to politicise their work.

Given the unusual circumstances of the election and the political polarisation engendered by the campaign with its allegations of electoral fraud, Armenian election commissions and candidates' proxies as well as the voters are to be congratulated on the generally orderly and honest way in which they conducted themselves on 30th March."

Document(s): Open document