Amid preparations by the federal government to dispatch election observers to Armenia, a group headed by the former president of Human Rights Watch is cautioning Canada and its Western allies about a decline in democracy before the June election. The International Observatory for Democracy in Armenia (IODA), led by Kenneth Roth, highlighted the current Armenian government’s concerning trend of stifling opposition viewpoints and eroding independent institutions during a fact-finding mission to Yerevan in March.
In response to these findings, IODA sent letters to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Global Affairs Canada, shedding light on their discoveries. Canada plans to deploy seven independent election observers to Armenia ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections, as confirmed by the Privy Council Office in a statement to CBC News. These observers will be part of a larger mission organized by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Prime Minister Carney’s recent visit to Yerevan coincided with the European Political Community (EPC) summit. During the summit, Carney emphasized the deep historical ties between Canada and Europe, underscoring shared values such as freedom, the rule of law, democracy, and pluralism.
One of the key campaign themes leading up to the Armenian elections is the pivot towards the West, with concerns raised about potential democratic shortcomings in the country. IODA, which includes prominent figures like Bryan May and Jason Kenney, expressed alarm over government interference in the judiciary and religious sectors, along with alleged politically motivated prosecutions of dissenting voices.
Armenia’s shift away from its traditional ally, Russia, has been a point of contention among Pashinyan’s critics, who accuse him of making excessive concessions in pursuit of peace with Azerbaijan. The imprisonment of political opponents, including figures like Samvel Karapetyan and Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, has raised further concerns about the state of democracy in Armenia.
As Armenia braces for its first election since the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, Western nations, including Canada, have been vocal about the need for accountability and humanitarian considerations in the aftermath of the war. The recent destruction of churches in the region has added to the complexity of the peace process, with calls for restoration and reconciliation echoing across international platforms.
The upcoming election in Armenia is viewed as a critical juncture, with external observers like those from Canada playing a pivotal role in ensuring transparency and fairness throughout the electoral process. Issues such as campaign and candidate registration are crucial elements in determining the legitimacy of the election procedures.
