According to the communication of the RA General Prosecutor’s Office of June
27, the Chairman of the Precinct Electoral Commission 13/16 of Erebuni community
of Yerevan Vasil Afian was charged on Article 149 of the RA Criminal Code (“Obstruction
of the realization of the right to vote, the work of electoral commissions or
the competence of people taking part in elections”). The case was directed to
the court of general jurisdiction of Erebuni and Nubarashen communities of Yerevan.
According to the investigation materials, in the afternoon of February 19, 2008,
on the day of Armenian presidential elections, correspondent of “Haikakan Zhamanak”
Lusineh Barseghian and observer Armen Martirosian (RA National Assembly Deputy
of “Heritage” party – Ed. Note) arrived at the precinct
13/16 to verify a report of violations – being, as the investigation materials
state, “engaged in journalistic and observation missions, respectively, within
the limits of their competence”. The Chairman of the Commission refused to answer
the questions of the journalist, prohibited taking pictures of him and ordered
for Lusineh Barseghian to be dismissed from the precinct, thus violating the
legal right of the journalist to be at the precinct. Through the efforts of
Armen Martirosian the correspondent of “Haikakan Zhamanak” returned to the precinct
and continued her work. Then the Chairman of the Commission ordered the police
officers to put out of the precinct not only Lusine Barseghian but also Armen
Martirosian. Thus, the investigation materials say, the Commission Chairman
impeded the competence of the journalist and the observer.
