Armenian Presidential Election Legal Hotline

ArmeniaNow reports on the telephone hotline established by various organizations operating under the umbrella of the Legal Initiative, Elections 2008. The hotline also operated during last year’s parliamentary election in Armenia.

“Our goal is not to register violations, but to take preventive measures, provide legal solutions to issues,” says cochairman of the Helsinki Citizens Assembly Armenia Committee Natalia Martirosyan. “If we declare ourselves to be a law-abiding state, we must solve all our problems in a legal way, which, unfortunately, is something we lack.”

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Forty “ambulance” cars will operate throughout Armenia on Election Day to take lawyers, observers, civil activists and reporters to follow reports and tip-offs at polling stations. Legal specialists will also work at the central office. Regional NGOs cooperating with the initiating group will do work in the provinces.

“They will help citizens who do not know what to do in a given case. Lawyers will provide legal assistance, reporters will cover the evidence, and observers will register it. If the facts reach the public through media quickly, it is possible that such cases will be prevented,” says Martirosyan.