YEREVAN. – The long-term OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) Election Observation Mission to Armenia’s second interim report, with respect to the present-day course of the country’s presidential election—to be held on February 18—, did not reflect on the requirements that were proposed by presidential candidate Andreas Ghukasyan—who is on a hunger strike ever since January 21—and on the assessments of these requirements. Ghukasyan himself stated this during a press conference on Monday.      

“It becomes apparent from the report that the observation mission disregards the fact—which is known for the entire society of Armenia—that the Republican Party, which rules Armenia for over ten years, has carried out unconstitutional actions, it distributes election bribes, and coerces the citizens to vote,” the presidential candidate’s respective statement reads in particular.      

In Andreas Ghukasyan’s view, it is apparent that the observation mission’s disregard of this fact proves that the activities of this organization—that is, the OSCE/ODIHR—have nothing to do with democracy, and it pursues political objectives.