International expert Center for Electoral Systems (ICES) has formed a final mission of ICES observers to monitor Armenia’s presidential elections on February 18, 2013.

The mission was formed during a working seminar in Maastricht, the Netherlands. The 35-member mission will be headed by ICES president Alexander Tsinker and will include international experts from 10 EU member states, the U.S. and Israel.

The mission includes three functional groups: political group featuring members of the European Parliament and national parliaments; legal group including lawyers and former diplomats; media group.

An 8-member group of long-term observers will start working on February 1, 2013. ICES mission plans to present the second preliminary report on February 15.

A group of short-term observers will arrive in Armenia on February 14.