The Armenian Parliament, having discussed Armen Sarkissian’s candidacy as the ruling Republican Party of Armenia’s presidential nominee, voted 90 to 10 on March 2, 2018, electing him as President of Armenia.

We, the undersigned organizations state that Armen Sarkissian failed to dispel the doubts about his citizenship. In particular, he does not meet the constitutional requirement of holding citizenship of only the Republic of Armenia for the preceding six years. Despite public demand voiced in numerous platforms to publish documents on renouncing his UK citizenship, Sarkissian merely submitted a reference from the Passport and Visa Department of Armenia’s Police only to verify his Armenian citizenship. It naturally, cannot substitute any document issued by UK respective government bodies as the only authentic proof. The lack of this document deepens public doubts on his failure to meet citizenship requirement, meanwhile showing Armen Sarkissian’s disdainful and irreverent attitude toward the Constitution and the citizens of Armenia.

It should be remembered that Serzh Sargsyan, who came to power in 2008 through marred elections accompanied by at least 10 deaths and retained President’s office once again through falsified elections since 2013, pushed constitutional amendments to reproduce and strengthen his political party’s power and in 2015, through rigged constitutional referendum ensured stable majority of the Republican Party of Armenia in the Parliament. No wonder that against this backdrop the candidate nominated in the position of the President by the Republican Party of Armenia can afford to neglect the Constitutional requirements and find himself in the highest position at any cost.

It is noteworthy that the votes cast by the overwhelming majority of MPs proved that they have no respect for the Constitution of Armenia and are led not by the requirement of law but rather by political expediency of the moment driven by their parochial personal and clan interests.

We state that the constitutional casus on the election of the President directly by the people or by the Parliament and the arbitrary interpretation of the constitutional norms related to it already question the constitutionality of the President’s election. Furthermore, Armen Sarkissian elected by the majority of the MPs assumed presidency in violation of the citizenship requirement precisely stipulated by the Constitution of Armenia. Thus, he truly casts strong doubt on his legitimacy and puts to question his main function as the guarantor of the Constitution.

Transparency International Anticorruption Center
Journalists’ Club "Asparez"
“Union of Informed Citizens” NGO
Open Society Foundations - Armenia
“For Equal Rights” NGO
Women’s Resource Center
Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office
Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation
Public Journalism Club
"Rights and Freedom Center" NGO
“Protection of Rights Without Borders” NGO
Yeghegnadzor Civic Youth Center
“Peace Dialogue” NGO
Condominium Development Association
Public Defender Association
"Center of Economic Right" NGO
“Helsinki Association” human rights NGO
"Sinjar" Yezidi National Union
“Public Information and Need of Knowledge” NGO
Foundation Against the Violation of Law NGO
Colorful House Social-cultural and Human Rights Defender NGO
Regional Studies Center
“Free Citizen” Civic Initiatives Support Center
Institute of Public Policy
“'Sose' Women’s Issues” NGO
My Lawyer NGO
"Contact Plus" human rights NGO
"Sustainable development" NGO
"Civil Voice" NGO