Armenian observers refuse going to NKR elections

The "Eyewitness" mission has refused to monitor the elections in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) because of the coronavirus and urged to postpone them. Journalists from at least 13 Armenian media also decided not to go to cover the voting.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the NKR presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled for March 31, 2020.

The "Eyewitness" observation mission, which includes the "Transparency International" Anti-Corruption Centre and the "Asparez" Gyumri Journalists' Club, refused to go to the NKR. "The spread of coronavirus around the world, and the rapidly growing numbers of those infected in Armenia, and hidden manifestations of the infection, including a preliminary positive diagnosis among some observers, and self-isolation of some and refusal of others have forced the "Eyewitness" to change its decision and not to send observers from Armenia to Artsakh (NKR)," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has translated the mission's statement posted on its website on March 29.

The statement emphasizes that it is not practical to hold elections now. The mission members have suggested that a significant part of voters will not appear at polling stations, fearing the infection.

The Armenian media, in particular, the "ArmeniaTV", the New Armenia TV, and the editions named "Hetq", "Armenian News", "Iravunq", "ArmDay", "Factor", "Eurasianet", "Hayacq", "Armdaily", "Aravot", "ArmeniaToday" and "Sputnik-Armenia" have also refused to travel to the NKR and cover the elections," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has reported.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 30, 2020 at 06:28 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.