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On November 4, the Head of the RA NA Armenia Faction Seyran Ohanyan and the representatives of the faction met with the co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of obligations and commitments by Armenia Kimmo Kiljunen and Boriana Åberg.

Seyran Ohanyan referred to the 44-day war and its consequences. According to the Head of the faction, it should be voiced on the international platforms that the war was an encroachment against the right of the people of Artsakh to live and create in their historical homeland. It was underlined that during the war, the Azerbaijani-Turkish tandem has committed crimes against the Armenians of Artsakh, has used banned ammunition and continues to desecrate historical and cultural values. Seyran Ohanyan has considered the intrusion of the Azerbaijani armed forces into the RA sovereign territory inadmissible which is done for far-going purposes.

As Kimmo Kiljunen said, when Armenia and Azerbaijan became members of the Council of Europe, it was clear that the solution of the problem was envisaged only in a peaceful way. “We are concerned about the war situation and offences of human rights,” the co-rapporteur said.

The members of the faction touched upon the democratic processes, the problems of the freedom of speech, the shortcomings of the judicial sphere and amendments made to the Electoral Code. Aram Vardevanyan referred, in particular, to the inadmissibility of the criminal case initiated against the opposition deputies, considering it violation of the deputy’s right to immunity. He considered the amendments to the Electoral Code immediately on the eve of the elections unacceptable. The deputy expressed an opinion that though, amendments were made to the Electoral Code, however especially the regulations related to the campaign and the financing of the parties were not distinct.

The co-rapporteurs highlighted the cooperation with both the opposition and the government forces.