Approximately 100 parliamentarians and staff members from over 30 countries will travel to Armenia to observe the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7, according to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
As reported by the Operative Information Center-OMM, this deployment marks the twelfth time the organization has monitored elections in Armenia since 1995.
Dutch Senator Farah Karimi has been appointed as the Special Coordinator and leader of the OSCE Short-Term Observation Mission. The OSCE PA delegation itself will be led by Evrosima Pejovic, a member of the Parliament of Montenegro.
Prior to election day, observers are scheduled to hold a series of meetings with state institutions, the Central Election Commission, political parties, civil society organizations, media representatives, and independent experts. Additionally, visits to various regions of Armenia are planned to assess the election campaign environment.
The OSCE PA observers will coordinate their efforts with the mission from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), as well as delegations from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament.
Farah Karimi noted that Armenia is approaching these elections with significantly updated electoral legislation. According to Karimi, the new system aims to address long-standing issues such as electoral fraud, voter intimidation, and the misuse of administrative resources. She emphasized that the primary task of the observers is to evaluate how these legislative changes are implemented in practice.
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly plays a critical role in promoting democratic standards across its participating states. By deploying observation missions, the organization seeks to foster transparency and public confidence in electoral processes, ensuring that elections align with international commitments and democratic principles.
