YEREVAN.- The observation mission of Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe has no information on beating cases during the local elections in Armenia held on 9 and 23 September, mission head told reporters on Monday.

Henry Feral said there was a low risk of political pressure on the persons carrying out the technical control over the electoral process. In particular, it refers to school principals who were opening the polling stations.

Nevertheless, the observers learnt about pressure exerted on the Mayor of Kapan Arthur Atayan from the media reports. Finally, Atayan, the only mayor from ARF Dashnaktsutyun, did not run for the mayoral elections.

In general, the local elections can be considered as those meeting international standards, Feral said. However, some problems, such as the small number of parties engaged in the election process and few women candidates, must be improved.

The first of the two problems mentioned Feral, can have several reasons - financial problemsand lack of staff.

The local elections were held in Armenia on 9 and 23 September. A clear majority of the candidates were members of the Republican Party and Prosperous Armenia. On September 9 two people were beaten in Bambakashat village of Armavir Region, in on September 23 evening another case occurred in Oshakan village of Aragatsotn Region.