EU Ambassador’s sharp messages: “Law enforcement system shouldn’t serve the interests of the elite” (video)
Piotr Switalski, Head of the EU delegation to Armenia, made a rather sharp speech at the conference entitled “Electoral developments in Armenia; lessons learnt and future steps” organized by the Council of Europe, “In the whole world including Armenia the ruling party tries to use the Electoral Code for serving its interests. But in the world the EC doesn’t become a separating issue, and I would like the same to be in Armenia. I would advise improving the EC; as the elections showed it needs improvements. Credibility of institutions is important for Armenians. In general, the CEC is especially important for Armenians. I highly assess the Central Electoral Commission, but it should enjoy high public confidence. The matter is perceptions. I think that the CEC personnel should be enlarged, involving representatives from the civil society. I would advise Armenians to think of how to make the CEC reliable. If the CEC wants the society rely on it, it should have a reliably operating body.” He also touched upon the law enforcement system with some criticism, “If the law enforcement bodies aren’t considered to be independent and neutral, they will never be able to convince the society that they operate for the benefit of it. The law enforcement system, it’s true, being a part of the state, shouldn’t be perceived as a body serving the interests of the political elite. Public perceptions should be changed.” According to the Ambassador, the voting was fair in the polling stations, but we should pay attention to what had happened outside. We are aware of vote buying, electoral bribe, cases of threats and guiding. There was even a photo showing that in the hospitals doctors were voting instead of patients. The media outlets issued publications on moral crisis in schools, cases of distributing money, people were beaten, in general, shameful cases. The employees of private companies were treated in an impolite and crude way for gathering votes. Sometimes there are problems, which must be revealed in the criminal case, but these facts are evident, and I think efforts will be put to eliminate them.” Piotr Switalski ended his speech as follows, “Armenians need deep democracy, Armenians genetically yearn for freedom, and they are courageous enough to fight for their freedom. I am optimistic about the future of Armenia; democracy will mature here and the RA will have an effectively operating electoral system.” After Switalski’s speech the CEC Chairman Tigran Mukuchyan started his speech. Mukuchyan’s speech has common highlights. Soon Piotr Switalski left the hall.
