Armenian constitutional referendum, 2015

Last updated
Armenia
Coat of arms of Armenia.svg
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Armenia
Judiciary

A constitutional referendum was held in Armenia on 6 December 2015. [1] Its amendments to the constitution put the country on a course from having a semi-presidential system to being a parliamentary republic, [2] with the changes beginning to take place during the 2017–18 electoral cycle. [3] The referendum passed with 66.2% of voters supporting it. Voter turnout was 50.8%, passing the 33% threshold to validate the results. [4] [5]

Armenia Republic in South Caucasus in West Asia

Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located in Western Asia on the Armenian Highlands, it is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, the de facto independent Republic of Artsakh and Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran and Azerbaijan's exclave of Nakhchivan to the south.

Constitution of Armenia constitution of Armenia

The Constitution of Armenia was adopted by a nationwide Armenian referendum on July 5, 1995. This constitution established Armenia as a democratic, sovereign, social, and constitutional state. Yerevan is defined as the state's capital. Power is vested in its citizens, who exercise it directly through the election of government representatives. Decisions related to changes in constitutional status or to an alteration of borders are subject to a vote of the citizens of Armenia exercised in a referendum. There are 117 articles in the 1995 constitution. On November 27, 2005, a nationwide constitutional referendum was held and an amended constitution was adopted. The constitution was amended again in a national referendum on December 6, 2015 that changed the political structure from a semi-presidential system to a parliamentary republic.

Semi-presidential system system of government

A semi-presidential system or dual executive system is a system of government in which a president exists alongside a prime minister and a cabinet, with the latter being responsible to the legislature of a state. It differs from a parliamentary republic in that it has a popularly elected head of state, who is more than a mostly ceremonial/non-executive, figurehead, and from the presidential system in that the cabinet, although named by the president, is responsible to the legislature, which may force the cabinet to resign through a motion of no confidence.

Contents

Opponents of the new constitution, who argued that the amendment was President Serzh Sargsyan's way to stay in power after the end of his second and last term in office, alleged that violence, coercion and electoral fraud were used to secure the vote. [4]

Serzh Sargsyan 3rd President of Armenia

Serzh Sargsyan is an Armenian politician who served twice as the Prime Minister of Armenia and was the third President of Armenia, from 2008 to 2018. He won the February 2008 presidential election with the backing of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, a party in which he serves as chairman, and took office in April 2008. On 18 February 2013, he was re-elected as president and served the entire term.

Electoral fraud, sometimes referred to as election fraud, election manipulation or vote rigging, is illegal interference with the process of an election, either by increasing the vote share of the favored candidate, depressing the vote share of the rival candidates, or both. What exactly constitutes electoral fraud varies from country to country.

Background

After being drafted by the Specialised Commission on Constitutional Reforms, the proposed amendments were sent to the National Assembly on 21 August. On 5 October, the National Assembly voted 104–10, with three abstentions to put the proposals to a vote. The Republican Party of Armenia, Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Prosperous Armenia voted in favour, whilst the Armenian National Congress and Heritage voted against. The three abstainers were members of the Rule of Law, with two of the party's MPs voting against the proposals. [6]

National Assembly (Armenia) legislature of Armenia

The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, also informally referred to as the Parliament of Armenia is the legislative branch of the government of Armenia.

Republican Party of Armenia political party

The Republican Party of Armenia is a national-conservative political party in Armenia. It was the first political party in independent Armenia to be founded and registered. It is the largest party of the right-wing in Armenia, and claims to have 140,000 members.

Armenian Revolutionary Federation political party founded in 1890

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), also known as Dashnaktsutyun, is an Armenian nationalist and socialist political party founded in 1890 in Tiflis, Russian Empire by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian. Today the party operates in Armenia, Artsakh and in countries where the Armenian diaspora is present. Nowadays it constitutes a minor party, and as of December 2018 was represented in two national parliaments with 7 seats in the National Assembly of Artsakh and three seats in the Parliament of Lebanon as part of the March 8 alliance.

Proposed changes

Changes in National Assembly

In the current constitution National Assembly controls the executive branch and is responsible for supervising the budget. Under the amendments, Armenian National Assembly is going to consist of at least 101 deputies, instead of 131.

Moreover, according to electoral law, four seats for ethnic minorities will be allocated, one each for Russians, Yezidis, Assyrians and Kurds, respectively. [7] Additionally proportional electoral system is going to be used in the election of National Assembly.

Russians in Armenia are ethnic Russian living in Armenia, where they make up the largest minority besides the Yazidi Kurds. Roughly 12,500 Russians are believed to live in the country today, concentrated around Yerevan and Gyumri where Russian border guard bases are located. They are believed to make up about 0.5% of the country's population.

Assyrians in Armenia make up the country's third largest ethnic minority, after Yazidis and Russians. According to the 2011 census, there are 2,769 Assyrians living in Armenia, and Armenia is home to some of the last surviving Assyrian communities in the Caucasus. There were 6,000 Assyrians in Armenia before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, but because of Armenia's struggling economy during the 1990s, the population has been cut by half, as many have emigrated.

Kurds in Armenia

The Kurds in Armenia mainly live in the western parts of Armenia. The Kurds of the former Soviet Union first began writing Kurdish in the Armenian in the 1920s, followed by Latin in 1927, then Cyrillic in 1945, and now in both Cyrillic and Latin. The Kurds in Armenia established a Kurdish radio broadcast from Yerevan and the first Kurdish newspaper Rya Taza. There is a Kurdish Department in the Yerevan State Institute of Oriental studies. The Kurds of Armenia were the first exiled country to have access to media such as radio, education and press in their native tongue but many Kurds, from 1939 to 1959 were listed as the Azeri population or even as Armenians.

Furthermore, under the amendments, the National Assembly may adopt a law on amnesty by majority vote of the total number of parliamentarians.

Changes in Election and Appointment of the Prime Minister and his duties

Within a three-day period of the commencement of the term of office of the newly elected National Assembly, the President of the Republic shall appoint as Prime Minister the candidate nominated by the parliamentary majority formed in the procedure prescribed by Article 89 of the Constitution. Within a seven-day period of accepting the Government's resignation in case of the Prime Minister submitting a resignation or the office of the Prime Minister becoming vacant, the Chairman of the National Assembly shall, based on the distribution of parliamentary seats and based on consultations with the parliamentary factions, nominate the prime-minister candidate that enjoys the confidence of the majority of parliamentarians. The National Assembly shall elect the Prime Minister by majority vote of the total number of parliamentarians. If a Prime Minister is not elected, a second round of the vote shall be held seven days after the vote, in which the prime-minister candidates nominated by the factions may take part. If a Prime Minister is not elected by majority vote of the total number of parliamentarians, the National Assembly shall be dissolved by virtue of law.

Formation of the Government Within a 10-day period of the appointment of the Prime Minister, the President of the Republic shall, by proposal of the Prime Minister, appoint the deputy prime ministers and the ministers. Within a 20-day period of the formation of the Government, the Prime Minister shall present to the National Assembly the program of the Government. The National Assembly shall approve the Program of the Government within a seven-day period by majority vote of the total number of parliamentarians. If the National Assembly does not approve the Program of the Government and does not elect a new Prime Minister in accordance with Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 148 of the Constitution, then the National Assembly shall be dissolved by virtue of law. If the National Assembly elects the Prime Minister, but once again does not approve the Program of the Government, the National Assembly shall be dissolved by virtue of law.

According to the previous constitution, the prime minister should supervise the Government activities and coordinate the work of the Ministers and should adopt decisions on the organization of the Government activities. According to the new constitution, The Prime Minister shall, within the framework of the Program of the Government, determine the general guidelines of the Government's policy, direct the activities of the Government, and coordinate the work of the Government members. On specific issues, the Prime Minister may give instructions to the Government members. The Prime Minister shall lead the Security Council, the procedure of formation and operation of which shall be prescribed by law.

Changes in Judicial Power

In the current Constitution, it is mentioned, that prosecutor's office is an integrated system. Moreover, the head of prosecutor's office is the Prosecutor General. This statement is the same in the draft of the new constitution. The way of the Prosecutor General's appointment is the main difference. By the Current Constitution, the Prosecutor General is appointed by the National Assembly for a six-year term. Additionally, the National Assembly shall have a recommendation from the President of the Republic. Unlike the current one, draft of the new constitution suggests another way of appointment. That is: Prosecutor General will be appointed by the National Assembly by the three fifth of major votes. However, the term is the same- six years. Both constitutions emphasize the point that the same person cannot be appointed Prosecutor General for more than two consecutive terms. Another alternation is connected with the way of impeachment of the Prosecutor General. The current constitution acclaims, that the Prosecutor General can be impeached only in the cases set by law, having the suggestion of the President. Moreover, the National Assembly must reach the required limit of votes. According to the new constitution, even without the suggestion of the President, National Assembly has the power to impeach the Prosecutor General, only in case of reaching the three fifths of votes of ministers.

Changes in President's duties and responsibilities

The President of the Republic of Armenia shall be the head of the state. (Article 49, chapter 3)

According to the current Constitution:

The President of the Republic shall be elected by the citizens of the Republic of Armenia for a five year term of office. (Article 50, chapter 3)

The same person may not be elected for the post of the President of the Republic for more than two consecutive terms. (Article 50, chapter 3)

Every person having attained the age of thirty five, having been a citizen of the Republic of Armenia for the preceding ten years, having permanently resided in the Republic for the preceding ten years, and having the right to vote is eligible to be elected as President of the Republic. (Article 50, chapter 3)

However, according to the new constitution, the president is going to be elected for 7 years, and that person cannot be elected for more than 1 consecutive term.

Moreover, everyone who has attained the age of 40, has been a citizen of only the Republic of Armenia, has permanently resided in the Republic of Armenia for the preceding six years, and has voting right may be elected as President of the Republic.

The electoral process

According to our current constitution, people elect the president. The candidate who has received more than half of the votes shall be elected President of the Republic.

If the election involves more than two candidates and none of them receives the required number of votes a second round of election shall be held on the fourteenth day following the voting. The two candidates having received the highest number of votes may participate in the second round of election of the President of the Republic. In the second round the candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected President of the Republic. (Article 51,chapter 3)

However, according to the new constitution, The President of the Republic shall be elected by a College of Electors that consists of parliamentarians of the National Assembly and representatives elected by local self-government bodies from among them. The candidate who receives at least a three-fifths majority vote of total number of the Electoral College members shall be elected as President of the Republic. If no candidate receives such majority, a second round of the vote shall be conducted, in which all candidates that participated in the first round may participate. The candidate that receives more than half of the votes of the Electoral College members shall be elected as President of the Republic. If no candidate receives more than half of the votes of the Electoral College members in the second round, a third round of the vote shall be conducted, in which the two candidates that received the largest number of votes shall participate. In the third round, the candidate that receives more votes shall be elected as President of the Republic.

Furthermore, The President of the Republic of Armenia shall sign and publish a law adopted by the National Assembly .He or she shall apply to the Constitutional Court to determine the conformity of the law with the Constitution.. If the Constitutional Court decides that the law is in conformity with the Constitution, then the President of the Republic shall sign and publish the law within a five-day period.

Criticism

The referendum has been nicknamed "Sargsyan's project" by critics because it would allow incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan to de facto remain in power after his second term if the ruling Republican Party wins the new parliamentary elections. [8] Heritage party leader Raffi Hovannisian stated that the proposed constitutional reform is carried out to establish a single political party-state in Armenia. [9]

Heritage (Armenia) political party

Heritage is an Armenian national liberal party. It was founded in 2002 by Raffi Hovannisian, independent Armenia's first Foreign Minister.

Raffi Hovannisian Armenian politician

Raffi K. Richard Hovannisian is an American-born Armenian politician, the first Foreign Minister of Armenia and the founding leader of the national liberal Heritage party. He is the founder of the Armenian Center for National and International Studies, the country's first independent research center.

A one-party state, single-party state, one-party system, or single-party system is a type of state in which one political party has the right to form the government, usually based on the existing constitution. All other parties are either outlawed or allowed to take only a limited and controlled participation in elections. Sometimes the term de facto one-party state is used to describe a dominant-party system that, unlike the one-party state, allows democratic multiparty elections, but the existing practices or balance of political power effectively prevent the opposition from winning the elections.

Positions of parliamentary parties

A billboard on Yerevan's Baghramyan Avenue advocating a yes vote 2015 Armenian constitutional referendum yes billboard.jpg
A billboard on Yerevan's Baghramyan Avenue advocating a yes vote
Yes
No

Endorsements

A poster from the Jirair Sefilian-led anti-government organization reading: "No to the criminal regime's new constitution" "No to the criminal regime's new constitution".jpg
A poster from the Jirair Sefilian-led anti-government organization reading: "No to the criminal regime's new constitution"

Minor (extra-parliamentary) parties

Yes
No

Individuals

No

Opinion polls

DatePoll sourceYesNo
24 November 2015 Advanced Public Research 35.8%31.8%
10–21 September 2015 Gallup International 29.1%26.1%

Conduct

Levon Zourabian, who led the "No" camp, claimed there had been "mass cases of ballot-stuffing, violence, pressure, vote-buying". The European Platform for Democratic Elections reported "an unprecedented number of violations". [24] In contrast, Russian observers reported that there were no violations or incidents during the voting. [25]

Results and reactions

ChoiceVotes%
For825,85166.20
Against421,60033.80
Invalid/blank votes53,332–
Total1,303,466100
Registered voters/turnout2,567,04750.78
Source: Central Electoral Commission

Zourabian boycotted the following day's parliamentary session, and hundreds of protesters against the new constitution demonstrated in Yerevan. [4] The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe deemed that the low turnout was due to the new constitution being in the interests of the government rather than the population, and decried what it saw as a lack of public debate preceding the vote. [4] None of these allegations were supported by Russian electoral observers. [25]

See also

Related Research Articles

Politics of Armenia

The politics of Armenia take place in the framework of the parliamentary representative democratic republic of Armenia, whereby the President of Armenia is the head of state and the Prime Minister of Armenia the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the President and the Government. Legislative power is vested in both the Government and Parliament.

Government of Armenia

The Government of the Republic of Armenia or the executive branch of the Armenian government is an executive council of government ministers in Armenia. It is one of the three main governmental branches of Armenia and is headed by the Prime Minister of Armenia.

President of Turkey head of state and of government of Turkey

The President of the Republic of Turkey is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Turkey. Following the 2018 general election, the incumbent office-holder assumed the role of an Executive President and holds both ceremonial and executive status. In this capacity, the President represents the Republic of Turkey, and the unity of the Turkish nation, as well as ensuring the implementation of the Constitution of Turkey and the organized and harmonious functioning of the organs of state. The articles from 101 to 106 of the Constitution establish all the requirements, election, duties, and responsibilities for the office of the President. The office of the President of Turkey was established with the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey on 29 October 1923. The President of Turkey is often referred to as the Cumhurbaşkanı, meaning 'President of the People'.

The constructive vote of no confidence is a variation on the motion of no confidence that allows a parliament to withdraw confidence from a head of government only if there is a positive majority for a prospective successor. The principle is intended to ensure that a replacement head of government has enough parliamentary support to govern.

President of Georgia position

The President of Georgia is the constitutional Head of State of Georgia as well as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Forces. They represent Georgia in foreign relations. The constitution defines the presidential office as "the guarantor of the country’s unity and national independence."

Prime Minister of Armenia Head of Government of Armenia

The Prime Minister of Armenia is the head of government and most senior minister within the Armenian government, and is required by the constitution to "determine the main directions of policy of the Government, manage the activities of the Government and coordinate the work of the members of the Government." Also, according to the constitution, the Prime Minister heads the Security Council, which prescribes the main directions of the country's defense policy; thus, the Prime Minister is effectively the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Armenia.. Under the new 2015 constitution, the Prime Minister is the most powerful and influential person in Armenian politics. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of Armenia upon the vote of the National Assembly. The Prime Minister can be removed by a vote of no confidence in Parliament. In the constitutional referendum held in 2015, citizens voted in favor of transferring Armenia into a parliamentary republic.

An indirect election is an election in which voters do not choose between candidates for an office, but elect people who then choose. It is one of the oldest forms of elections, and is still used today for many presidents, cabinets, upper houses, and supranational legislatures. Presidents and prime ministers can be indirectly elected by parliaments or by a special body convened solely for that purpose. The election of the executive government in most parliamentary systems is indirect: elect the parliamentarians, who then elect the government including most prominently the prime minister from among themselves. Upper houses, especially of federal republics, can be indirectly elected by state legislatures or state governments. Similarly, supranational legislatures can be indirectly elected by constituent countries' legislatures or executive governments.

Parliament of Pakistan Federal legislature of Pakistan

The Parliament of Pakistan is the federal and supreme legislative body of Pakistan. It is a bicameral federal legislature that consists of the Senate as the upper house and the National Assembly, as the lower house. According to the constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President of Pakistan is also a component of the Parliament. The National Assembly is elected for a five-year term on the basis of adult franchise and one-man one-vote. The tenure of a Member of the National Assembly is for the duration of the house, or sooner, in case the Member dies or resigns. The tenure of the National Assembly also comes to an end if dissolved on the advice of the Prime Minister or by the president in his discretion under the Constitution.

Elections in France

France is a representative democracy. Public officials in the legislative and executive branches are either elected by the citizens or appointed by elected officials. Referendums may also be called to consult the French citizenry directly on a particular question, especially one which concerns amendment to the Constitution.

Italian Parliament legislature of Italy

The Italian Parliament is the national parliament of the Italian Republic. The Parliament is the representative body of Italian citizens and is the successor to the Parliament of the Kingdom of Sardinia (1848–1861) and the Parliament of the Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946). It is a bicameral legislature with 945 elected members and a small number of unelected members (parlamentari). It is composed of the Chamber of Deputies, with 630 members (deputati) elected on a national basis, and the Senate of the Republic, with 315 members (senatori) elected on a regional basis, plus a small number of senators for life, either appointed or ex officio. The two houses are independent from one another and never meet jointly except under circumstances specified by the Constitution.

President of Estonia position

The President of the Republic of Estonia is the head of state of the Republic of Estonia. The current President is Kersti Kaljulaid, elected by Parliament on 3 October 2016, becoming the first woman and youngest person ever who holds the position.

Senate of Kazakhstan upper house of two chambers in Kazakhstans legislature

The Senate of Kazakhastan is the upper house of two chambers in Kazakhstan's legislature, known as the Parliament (Parlamenti). The Senate is composed of elected members - two from each region, the city of republican importance (Almaty) and the capital city of the Republic of Kazakhstan at joint sessions of the members of all representative bodies of respective regions, city of the republican importance and the capital city of the Republic.

President of Artsakh

The President of Artsakh is the head of state and head of government of the de facto Republic of Artsakh.

Constitution of Madagascar

The current Constitution of Madagascar was, according to the national electoral commission, endorsed by a majority of voters in the constitutional referendum held on 14 November 2010. The new constitution launched the Fourth Republic of Madagascar and was widely seen as an attempt to consolidate and legitimise the rule of Andry Rajoelina and his High Transitional Authority government which was installed after a military-backed coup d'état against President Marc Ravalomanana at the beginning of the ongoing national political crisis. One substantive change from the constitution of the Third Republic was to lower the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 to 35. This made Rajoelina, aged 36 at the time, eligible to stand in presidential elections.

Politics of France Overview of Frances government and democratic system

The politics of France take place with the framework of a semi-presidential system determined by the French Constitution of the French Fifth Republic. The nation declares itself to be an "indivisible, secular, democratic, and social Republic". The constitution provides for a separation of powers and proclaims France's "attachment to the Rights of Man and the principles of national sovereignty as defined by the Declaration of 1789."

President of Armenia

The President of Armenia is the head of state and the guarantor of independence and territorial integrity of Armenia elected to a single seven year term by the National Assembly of Armenia. Under Armenia's parliamentary system, the President is simply a figurehead and holds ceremonial duties, with most of the political power vested in the Parliament and Prime Minister.

Semi-parliamentary system

A semi-parliamentary system is a classification of systems of government proposed by Maurice Duverger, in which citizens directly elect at the same time the legislature and the prime minister, possibly with an electoral law ensuring the existence of a parliamentary majority for the prime minister-elect. As in a parliamentary system, the prime minister is responsible to the legislature and can be dismissed by it: this however effectively causes a snap election for both the prime minister and the legislature.

General elections are scheduled to be held in the Republic of Artsakh in 2020. Voters will elect the President and members of the National Assembly. It will be the first time the President and National Assembly are elected at the same time.

2018 Armenian presidential election

Presidential elections were held in Armenia on 2 March 2018. As a result of the 2015 Armenian constitutional referendum, this was the first time in Armenia's history when the president was elected by the National Assembly instead of popular vote. Another outcome of the referendum was that the newly elected president will perform a ceremonial role as the country is currently transitioning from a semi-presidential system to a parliamentary republic. Incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan was barred by the Constitution of Armenia from running for a third consecutive term. Armen Sarkissian ran unopposed due to no other party nominating a candidate and easily won the election in the first round with 90 electoral votes.

References

  1. ↑ "Armenian President Sets Date Of Constitutional Referendum". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 8 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "'Yes' Inside, 'No' Outside: Parliament approves constitutional amendments package amid protest - Constitution". ArmeniaNow . Retrieved 2015-10-05.
  3. ↑ Abrahamyan, Gohar (December 9, 2015). "Still Counting: Outcome of referendum not expected to change due to recount". ArmeniaNow . Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Armenia fraud claims mar referendum on constitution". BBC News. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  5. ↑ Armenia: Who Benefits from Constitutional Reform? EurasiaNet, 4 November 2015
  6. ↑ Armenian parliament approves constitutional referendum decision; some oppositionists call for mass disobedience Panorama, 5 October 2015
  7. ↑ Edwards, Maxim (August 2, 2017). "Armenia: Ethnic Minorities Gain a Voice in Parliament". EurasiaNet . Retrieved 2017-08-02.
  8. ↑ Who needs parliamentary republic in Armenia? Vestnik Kavkaza, 5 October 2015
  9. 1 2 "Heritage: Armenia constitutional reform is implemented to establish party-state". news.am. 4 September 2015.
  10. ↑ Aslanian, Karlen; Movsisian, Hovannes (24 August 2015). "Constitutional Reform 'Victory For Dashnaktsutyun'". azatutyun.am. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. ...Dashnaktsutyun has long favored the country's transformation into a parliamentary republic...
  11. ↑ "Armenian National Congress joins 'No' front against draft constitutional amendments". news.am. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  12. ↑ "ՕԵԿ-ը դեմ է Սահմանադրության նախագծին. ԱԺ-ում նախագծի քվեարկությունը հետաձգվեց 1 ժամով". www.panorama.am. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  13. ↑ Muradyan, Lilit (20 November 2015). "ՀՀՇ-ն կողմ է սահմանադրական փոփոխություններին" (in Armenian). Public Radio of Armenia.
  14. ↑ "Հայաստանի կոմունիստական կուսակցությունը կողմ է սահմանադրական փոփոխություններին". armenpress.am. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  15. ↑ "ՌԱԿ-ը միանշանակ կողմ է սահմանադրական բարեփոխումներին". Առավոտ - Նորություններ Հայաստանից. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  16. ↑ "Social-Democratic Hnchakyan Party will say 'yes' to new Armenia Constitution". news.am. 17 October 2015.
  17. 1 2 Nikoghosyan, Alina (6 October 2015). "Parliamentary approval of constitutional amendments 'anti-constitutional', says Hayrikyan". ArmeniaNow .
  18. ↑ Nikoghosyan, Alina (17 November 2015). "More 'No' from Minor Political Party: Hayazn adds its voice to opposition over amendments". ArmeniaNow.
  19. ↑ Lazarian, Tatevik (2015-06-10). "Kocharian Slams Armenian Constitutional Reform". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան (in Armenian). Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  20. ↑ Բեդեւյան, Աստղիկ. "Հրանտ Բագրատյանը չի մտափոխվել, դեմ է Սահմանադրության փոփոխությանը". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան (in Armenian). Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  21. ↑ "Ժիրայր Սեֆիլյան․ "Սերժ Սարգսյանը երազում է կենտկոմի քարտուղար դառնալ"". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  22. ↑ Grigoryan, Marianna (4 November 2015). "Armenia: Who Benefits from Constitutional Reform?". eurasianet.org. Open Society Institute.
  23. ↑ "Ոչ՝ 1000 անգամ. Հայաստանը՝ ստվերային պետության շեմին. «Մոդուս վիվենդի»". lratvakan.am. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  24. ↑ Armenia: Referendum assessed as illegitimate by citizen observers and EPDE EDPE
  25. 1 2 Ghazanchyan, Siranush (6 December 2015). "Russian observers report no violations during Armenian Constitutional referendum". Public Radio of Armenia. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.