A workshop entitled European Capital Cities’ Transparency Ranking (ECCTR) was held on 25-26 September 2018 in Bratislava, Slovakia. The workshop was organized by Transparency International Slovakia. The event was attended by representatives from 23 countries, including Mikayel Avetisyan, Researcher of Transparency International Anticorruption Center (TIAC). The focus of the event was the development of a methodology for the capitals’ transparency ranking for pilot and final full-scale phases.

Despite the procedural violations identified by “Akanates” initiative no mass and systemic violations occurred on September 23, 2018 Yerevan city council elections, which were typical of last year’s municipal and national elections, such as ballot box stuffing; incorrect counts; falsification of the results; vote buying; services provided to voters; overcrowdings and disorders in the precincts and in the vicinity of the polling stations; pressures and violence; obvious directing, etc. Thus, favorable conditions are created for the citizens to be freer, braver, and feel at ease in expressing their own free will. The newly elected Council of elders, in its turn is supposed to reflect the real preferences of the citizens.

Yerevan city council elections on September 23, 2018 were the first in the past 20 years in Armenia that were held in free and competitive environment, where every citizen’s vote was crucial, and the results of voting were not determined in advance.

"Akanates" (Eyewitness) election observation mission will engage around 160 observers to participate in the public oversight of Yerevan city council elections on September 23, 2018. The observation mission will cover 80 precincts in all administrative districts of Yerevan. The initiative will disseminate press releases and post information if needed on the election day on Facebook pages of "Akanates" election observation mission and its members, as well as on the websites of www.transparency.am and www.asparez.am.