Reprehensible name: why did Armenia adopt amendments to the electoral code

The Armenian authorities have adopted amendments to the electoral code in an expedited manner. The main innovation is that it is forbidden to indicate first and last names in the names of political associations. The decision hits a major opposition force, Samvel Karapetyan's party, whose name is mentioned in the title. For more information, see the Izvestia article.

What happened

The Armenian parliament has adopted amendments to the country's electoral code in an expedited manner. Some of them seem to be neutral in nature. For example, ballots will be declared invalid if there is any foreign object in the envelopes. Plus, the chairmen of local election commissions should keep their hands in plain sight when removing envelopes from ballot boxes and counting votes.

However, some of the changes directly hit the opposition. The main innovation in this regard is the prohibition of political associations to include names and surnames in their names. The main victim here is entrepreneur Samvel Karapetyan's "Strong Armenia" block, whose official name mentions the first and last name of the founder.

I must say that the reform was carried out in an extreme hurry. On April 6, representatives of the ruling party Arusiak Julakyan and Alkhas Ghazaryan submitted a bill to the Parliament for consideration. And on the 7th, the deputies approved the document in three readings at once. At the same time, there are only two months left before the elections, and on April 13, the country's Central Election Commission will begin registering blocks for participation in the campaign. In other words, the opposition has little time to make changes.

It is noteworthy that the decision taken contradicts the recommendations of the European structures, which the ruling party seems to dream of joining. The PACE Venice Commission demands not to change the electoral legislation a year before the elections. Representatives of the Armenian authorities, however, claim that this recommendation concerns only the legal basis, for example, the procedure for voting and membership in election commissions, but "technical changes" are allegedly allowed.

What is important to know

The ruling party says the amendments are intended to "strengthen public confidence in the electoral process." The author of the reform, Arusiak Julakyan, noted that the innovations would supposedly help ensure the confidentiality of voting, eliminate the possibility of controlling the expression of will and ensure transparency.

The opposition does not hide its indignation. "This initiative is directed against our political force, since on March 31 we formed a bloc called Strong Armenia with Samvel Karapetyan. Now such a name is banned. Today's authorities, in fear of losing their seat, resort to the most radical actions," lawyer Gohar Meloyan emphasized during a protest outside the parliament.

Another oppositionist, Edgar Ghazaryan, drew attention to the fact that the amendments did not pass public discussion and were adopted at the moment when the election campaign had actually started. "It is obvious that these changes are being made against Samvel Karapetyan. Tomorrow they may declare that those who wear size 42 shoes are not allowed to participate in the elections. None of this is serious," he said.

I must say that this is not the first attack by the authorities on the opposition. Samvel Karapetyan has been under fierce pressure from the security forces for almost a year now. It all started last summer, when an entrepreneur stood up for the Armenian Church, which was attacked by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The businessman then complained in a rather diplomatic manner that the authorities had forgotten the thousand-year-old Armenian history, and promised to remind them of it.

After that, the security forces came to Karapetyan with a search, then he was detained and placed in jail on charges of calling for the seizure of power. At the same time, Pashinyan made openly boorish comments, for example, he promised that the detainee "would have the taste of the state in his mouth." He also called for the punishment of "lecherous benefactors" who protect "lecherous priests."

Next, the authorities nationalized the Electric Networks of Armenia company, which belonged to Karapetyan and served 1 million customers. The change in ownership was approved by the country's parliament and President Vahagn Khachaturian. Interestingly, Karapetyan's family appealed the nationalization and won the case in international arbitration, but official Yerevan did not change its decision in this regard.

Last December, Karapetyan was released from jail and placed under house arrest. His supporters complain that the politician is forbidden to record video messages. "We are trying to get permission from the Prosecutor General's Office to record a short video. At the same time, Nikol Pashinyan simply does not get out of the TV and the Internet, he is on the air day and night," said the businessman's nephew Narek Karapetyan.

What the experts say

The current Armenian authorities have embarked on a policy of rapprochement with the West, says Viktor Nadein-Rayevsky, senior researcher at IMEMO RAS, Institute of Political and Social Studies of the Black Sea-Caspian Region. And along the way, they eliminate all obstacles.

— We have seen a fierce struggle with the Armenian Church, in which six bishops have been arrested, and the movements of Catholicos Garegin II are severely restricted, and demands are being made for his resignation. Now we are seeing pressure on the political opposition, and the rules of the electoral game are changing a few weeks before election day," he notes.

According to the expert, surprises are also possible directly during the voting process. This is also because the Armenian opposition is quite weak.

— The rating of the ruling party is low, but its opponents also have low indicators. There are no significant figures who could oppose Pashinyan yet," the Izvestia interlocutor argues.

In turn, Armenian political analyst Tigran Kocharyan claims that the ruling party has serious electoral problems. He sees the meaning of the new amendments in the desire of the authorities to undermine the positioning of the opposition party.

— Everyone in our country knows Samvel Karapetyan, but the name "Strong Armenia" does not mean anything to people. If you remove the link to the name, many people simply will not recognize his political association, they will not find him on the ballot. I think that the ruling party is not taking such steps out of a good life. If they themselves had a high rating and real popularity, they would have done without such tricks, the expert is convinced.