Transparency International Anti-corruption center’s Armen Grigoryan discussed with CivilNet the upcoming local elections, the plans and objectives of the "Citizen Observer" initiative, of the issues related to the new Electoral Code. "Citizen Observer" initiative’s main target will be the upcoming local elections and the problems associated with them; anticipating nearly 500 observers will cover about 240 polling stations for the elections on September 18 and October 2nd. Hot spots will be Gyumri, Vanadzor, to some extent Sisian, Garni.

"Citizen Observer" initiative will do everything possible to establish a normal electoral system in Armenia, and that the people in power come to power through elections. According to Grigoryan, local elections are important components ahead of the forthcoming parliamentary elections. Local elections are a test for all parties, government and civil society. It is a test for political parties to understand how big of a representation they are going to be able to have in the parliamentary elections. It is also a test to retain power, because in the last few years the government is experiencing some serious shocks in this regard. Additionally it is a test for civil society in terms of increasing the army of observers, so that in 2017 all of the polling stations across the country are be covered by nearly 4,000 observers.