Presidential Election, 18 February 2013

Following an official invitation from the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, the OSCE/ODIHR has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to the 18 February 2013 presidential election. Based on the findings and conclusions of the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission for the 2012 parliamentary elections, the EOM will be of a format similar to the one deployed for the previous elections. In the case of a second round of the election, the EOM will remain in country to continue its observation.

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM and the OSCE Office in Yerevan operate separately under their specific mandates.

Long-term Observation

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM, headed by Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini, consists of 13 international experts based in Yerevan. In addition, 24 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 16 January 2013.

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM will assess the presidential election for its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as with domestic legislation. Observers will closely monitor campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant governmental bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, the media environment, and the resolution of election-related disputes.

Election Day

The OSCE/ODIHR will request 250 short-term observers to be deployed immediately prior to the 18 February election. The short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country in multinational teams of two to monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results.

The day after the election, ODIHR will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the observation mission.

Previous elections

The OSCE/ODIHR has observed eight elections in Armenia since 1996, including the most recent 2008 presidential and 2012 parliamentary elections.