YEREVAN. – The European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) was not accredited as an international observer in the forthcoming constitutional referendum in Armenia. 

EPDE representative Lene Wetteland stated about the aforementioned at a press conference on Friday, and added that it is unclear why they were not accredited. 

Wetteland said they had petitioned to the Central Electoral Commission of Armenia for respective accreditation, but their petition was denied.

Now, the EPDE representatives will observe the course of the referendum as just public journalists.

In turn, deputy director of Transparency International Anti-corruption Center office in Armenia, Sona Ayvazyan, noted that their Center will monitor the referendum process with a large number of people, and there will be over 900 observers. 

“Representatives of the European Platform for Democratic Elections will be with us, too,” Ayvazyan added.

The referendum on Armenia’s constitutional amendments will be conducted on Sunday.

Pursuant to the proposed amendments, the country will make a transition from a semi-presidential to a parliamentary system of governance, and conduct completely proportional parliamentary elections.