On October 20, 2014 Media Center hosted a press conference with the participation of local NGOs engaged in election observation mission deployed in a number of Marzes of Armenia on October 19 to monitor local government elections. Heriknaz Tigranyan, Legal Adviser of Transparency International Anticorruption Center and Armen Petrosyan, Executive Director of “KhoranArd” Intellectual Center, members of “Citizen Observer “ Initiative, as well as Yeghiazar Davtyan, Coordinator of Martuni Women's Community Council NGO took part in the press conference.

Heriknaz Tigranyan addressed the alerts reported by the observers of “Citizen Observer” Initiative from the precincts, the results of observation, the lessons learnt. In some cases the alerts were recorded on the interactive map of TIAC as violations of voting procedure. In other cases consultancy was provided to those needed. As a result of operative response some violations were eliminated in situ. Heriknaz Tigranyan said that only 19 violations were observed which is a better index as compared with the March and June local elections. Based on the given 19 violations 15 applications should be filed and submitted to the territorial election commissions within the time prescribed by law.

In some cases the nature of current alerts did not differ much from those received during the previous elections, in particular, overcrowding of people and cars, transportation of voters which is so widespread in Armenia that seem to have turned into a tradition. Transportation of voters cannot be unequivocally regarded as violation, however they may be implied as an attempt of directing voters.” An unmarked ballot paper of a defined specimen was found in a voting booth of a precinct, in other a marked ballot paper with its envelope was found. In both cases after the observers’ reporting the violations were registered by the chair of the election commission.

The representatives of NGOs mentioned that this time the observations showed that the members of election commissions precisely knew their functions and took certain measures to stop violations, particularly in case of the overcrowdings. However, serious violations that could affect the election results were not observed. The representatives of Civil Observer Initiative emphasized a noteworthy fact that almost all of the community heads were re-elected.