Armenian Elections

Abstract

This interdisciplinary issue of the Caucasus Analytical Digest looks at some of the most common pre-election violations before and during the parliamentary elections in Armenia 2017, civil society’s observation missions, and challenges related to the electoral system. Sociologist and anthropologist Milena Baghdasaryan analyzes the workings of patron-client networks and some of the most pervasive violations that took place prior to the elections; political analyst Armen Grigoryan examines the development of civil society’s observation missions in Armenia since 2010 and their results and effectiveness during the parliamentary elections of 2017; finally, lawyer Tigran Yegoryan discusses the activities of the electoral administration bodies, the impact of the law enforcement practice on changes in the electoral law and vice-versa, and some of the problems and risks which have become apparent in the electoral processes.