NGO representatives engaged in observation missions monitoring Yerevan City Council Elections, including Sona Ayvazyan, Deputy Director of Transparency International Anti-corruption Center (TIAC), took part in a press conference hosted by Media Center. "Citizen Observer" Initiative comprised TIAC, Europe in Law Association, Helsinki Citizens Assembly Vanadzor office, "Asparez" Journalists Club and a big group of Diaspora Armenians interested in democratic development in Armenia.

The Initiative observed elections in Malatia-Sebastia, Erebuni and Shengavit administrative districts and a small part of Nubarashen district, by covering 113 electoral precincts in pairs. The initiative filed nearly 40 complaints and submitted them to the consideration of the Territorial Electoral Commissions (TEC) and was going to present more complaints by the end of the day, before 6:00 oclock and would see how TEC and Central Electoral Commission (CEC) follow up.

Those violations were recorded on TIAC website. They were followed by the police and CEC. Those materials give sufficient foundation to initiate proceedings by their initiative and are adequate for the law enforcement bodies to open criminal cases on their own initiative. "Citizen Observer" Initiative should follow and observe to see how they manifest after this election.

Once again disreputable elections with plentiful violations were held. From early morning various violations were recorded, including violations of the observers and mass media representatives rights, obstructions for reporters to take videos, threats, swears, psychological pressures, tensions in the majority of the polling stations. Some precincts where different political forces were represented, seemed to counterbalance each other and ensure normal processes. However, there were precincts where neighborhood authorities took the power. For instance the issues might have been settled on the level of MP Samvel Alexanyan, who might have come to the polling station and warn his "band" representatives for any further complaints not to be filed from that polling station. Instances of carousel voting, applications of pens of various colors, widespread gatherings in a place at a time, busing, including transporting people by mini-buses to precincts, multiple voting that has become regular concerning notorious abuse of inflated voter lists were observed.

In the opinion of Sona Ayvazyan the Initiatives general assessment was bad and it seemed we have no progress in improving electoral processes.