Famous Canadian-Armenian actress Arsinee Khanjian wrote an open letter to Diaspora urging to act as observers during the 2017 parliamentary elections in order to promote and secure fair and free and transparent elections in the country.

In her letter Khanjian told about the arrest during a rally in Yerevan, and this was when she realized that “we are overdue in re-examining the nature of the Armenian Diaspora’s engagement with its homeland.”

“The country has major internal problems due to systemic corruption, nepotism and an oligarchic economy, where power and wealth remains in the hands of a few. Absence of equitable rule of law and upward social mobility combined with the suppression of freedom of speech and thought as well as civil liberties and rights, have all further exacerbated an already intolerable situation in the Republic,” she wrote.

Khanjian urged 8-million–strong Armenian Diaspora “to go to Armenia in the spring of 2017 and man every polling station at the upcoming parliamentary elections.”

“It is by engaging in this process as a facilitator that the Diaspora can and will help the Republic of Armenia’s newly elected government to earn respect and legitimacy with its citizens, and with the international community,” she added

The famous actress believes the Diaspora cannot remain a bystander, and should respond to “the pleas from our compatriots”.