Transparency International Anti-corruption Center (TIAC) held a press conference on June 1, 2009, to present the preliminary assessment of its 50-member Election Observation Mission of May 31 Yerevan City Council Elections, carried out in 33 precincts of TEC 8, Malatia-Sebastia Community. TIAC Chairwoman Amalia Kostanyan noted, "We have witnessed the collapse of the Armenian electoral system as institution. Instead, another institution proved to be strong and "functional" - clans and neighborhood criminals.

The following violations were detected by TIAC observers: ballot stuffing, directing of voters, overcrowding inside and outside, interference in the election process by unauthorized persons, voting by false passports, double voting, obstructing and intimidation of observers, journalists, proxies, and assaults, open voting, inaccuracies in the voter lists, stealing of voter lists and stamps, etc.

The Head of Helsinki Citizen's Assembly Vanadzor Office Artur Sakunts presented how they attempted to bribe him and said that despite his experience as observer during numerous elections the current ones were unprecedented.

A report on findings of TIAC EOM will be presented after summing up the results.