Local government officials told to attend Avinyan's campaign march, watchdog says
The Independent Observer has accused Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party of abuse of administrative resources during the campaigning for the upcoming Yerevan municipal elections.
In a post on Facebook, the watchdog says local government officials, including community leaders and their employees, as well as staffers of regional public institutions have been ordered to attend the campaign march of Civil Contract's mayoral candidate, Tigran Avinyan, scheduled for Friday evening.
The Independent Observer warns that the abuse of administrative resources and the coercion of people into attending campaign rallies are punished by a fines and jail term, respectively.
Yerevan residents will elect a new municipal council that will in turn appoint a new mayor of the Armenian capital on September 17. Thirteen parties and one bloc are vying for the City Council seats.
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