During a press conference held in Media Center on March 10, 1014, members of ‘’Citizen Observer’’ initiative introduced the findings of local government election observation conducted a day before in five Marzes of Armenia. The speakers of the press conference were Lena Nazaryan, Transparency International Anticorruption Center, Tigran Yegoryan, Europe in Law association NGO, as well as Levon Barseghyan, Journalists’ Club “Asparez” and Artur Sakunts, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office via Skype.

Lena Nazaryan reflected on "Citizen Observer" initiative and the elections they observed. The Initiative was created in spring 2013, comprising four non-governmental organizations - Transparency International Anticorruption Center, Europe in Law Association, Journalists’ Club "Asparez" and Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office. Hitherto election observation mission was carried out during May 5, 2013 Yerevan City Council and May 26, 2013 local government elections. This year local government elections are due in 200 communities of Armenia in March, June, October and December. On March 9, 2014, the first group of observers took part in the observation of the elections of community heads and councils.

On March 9, 2014, community heads and councils were elected in 53 communities of 9 Marzes (province) of Armenia. Prior to the elections "Citizen Observer" members arranged a number of meetings in 13 communities with 270 people in order to raise public awareness. During those meetings they introduced the attendees the purpose of local government, the authorities and obligations of the heads of communities and councils. The residents were unaware of the community budget, expenditures, candidates, right of running for office. “Citizens have a vague idea on the significance of local government and have absolutely no participation in the local government.

"Citizen Observer" initiative also recorded population’s passive participation in the elections.
“Only 20-30 percent of population participates in the elections, the rest are indifferent to the electoral process.” According to the "Citizen Observer" members, this is due to the wrong perception of the local government bodies.

Levon Barseghyan informed, “The perception of local government is extremely flawed in the communities. Many imply the head of community, who is subordinate to the provincial governor as local government. Population is not ready to discuss their community issues, call head of community administration to account.” He finds it mandatory for opposition to participate in local government elections. “The opposition is obliged to participate in all levels of elections, no matter how frustrated it is. To me, non-participation is unacceptable from the standpoint of political struggle.”

Artur Sakunts thinks that the opposition’s passiveness, in particular, Armenian National Congress’s non-participation in the local government elections is due to the fact that local government issues are not subject to political agenda for political forces.