Armenian Opposition To Challenge Constitutional Referendum In Court

By RFE/RL's Armenian Service

The opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) says it plans to challenge the results of a December 6 national referendum that transformed the country from a presidential to a parliamentary system of government.

HAK official Levon Zurabian told RFE/RL's Armenian Service on December 14 that the group will appeal to the country’s Constitutional Court in a bid to challenge the referendum, which his group says was marred by ballot-box stuffing, multiple voting, and vote buying. 

Armenia's Central Election Commission said on December 13 that amendments to the country's constitution have been adopted following the referendum.

The commission rejected allegations raised by HAK, saying that "no violations that could impact the referendum results were reported."

It said "a mere list of violations" reported from local election commissions "cannot be considered as grounds" for dismissing the results.

The opposition says the amendments are meant to enable President Serzh Sarkisian to remain in power after his final term as president ends in 2018.

With reporting by Interfax