YEREVAN. - Armenian Police have launched an investigation into election violation cases based on media reports, Police Colonel Tatul Petrosyan told reporters on Monday.

Police are working to clarify media reports on ballot stuffing, he said.

Petrosyan noted that 88 alerts on election violations have been recorded, of which 27 had been investigated, 61 cases under investigation. At the moment no criminal cases have been instituted by police.

Fifty-six of the mentioned cases referred to distribution of election bribes, but they were not confirmed. According to him, the police received numerous reports which are based on fragmentary information or rumors.

The sixth presidential election in Armenia got underway Monday at 8am, and it will continue until 8pm. The votes are cast in 1,988 precincts that are registered throughout the country. About 2.5 million citizens have the right to vote. Seven candidates are running in the election.