08 May 2015, 04:33
Many invalids had no chance to vote at NKR's elections
According to international observers, at the recent parliamentary elections in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), the problems of persons with disabilities were not fully taken into account. The earlier proposals to ensure invalids' rights were not realized at the elections, said the public organization "Vita".
The official observer mission of the International Centre for Electoral Systems (ICES) has noted that polling stations had no conditions to vote for persons with disabilities, said Alexander Tsinker, the president of the mission.
"Indeed, certain polling stations had no facilities for a wheelchair invalid to drive into the station... Some of them were helped by people, but many turned around and went home," said Arevik Petrosyan, the chairman of the "Vita".
According to his story, also those invalids, who are in bed and cannot go out, were unable to vote.
Anna Churdova, an ICES expert from the Czech Republic, has noted that citizens, who do not speak the Armenian language, had difficulties in voting. They could not read the materials placed at the stations and fill in their ballots.
Regarding the citizens, who do not speak Armenian, Srbuhi Arzumanyan, the chair of the NKR's Central Election Commission (CEC), chairman said that "special decisions will be taken on this point."
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
Author: Alvard Grigoryan Source: CK correspondent
