Source - Independent Observer

Document on the meeting in Copenhagen of the conference on the human dimension of the CSCE (since 1994, the OSCE) https://www.osce.org/hy/odihr/elections/78641?download=true) article 34 stipulates that members of national minorities must be able to use their native language in relations with state authorities.

In order to avoid discrepancies in the Copenhagen document, we note that the manual prepared by the ODIHR / OSCE https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/124067) comments on the obligations set out in article 34, such as the dissemination of information and materials on electoral processes in the territories of national minorities in their languages.  The same is advised by the Venetian (https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx...) Commission, offering to have all the necessary information in the official language of the country, and in the languages of national minorities.

It should also be noted that Armenia has ratified the European Charter of national minorities or regional languages of the Council of EUROPE https://www.gov.am/u_fil.../.../kron/1%20Minorities%20Charter.pd) committing to take steps to preserve the Yazidi, Kurdish, Assyrian, Greek, and Russian languages:

The question put to the citizens of Armenia in the framework of the April 5 constitutional referendum should be available to representatives of national minorities - citizens of the Republic of Armenia in their native language.

Based on the above, the independent monitoring Alliance believes that

ensuring equal participation of national minorities in electoral processes is problematic and cannot take place in the Republic of Armenia,

the issue of equal participation of national minorities in future electoral processes should be the subject of professional and broad public discussions,

mechanisms should be developed to provide voting ballots in the languages of national minorities without jeopardizing the secrecy of voting:

As an urgent and partial measure in the run-up to the constitutional referendum, the independent Supervisory Board proposes to the Central election Commission in accordance with part 8 of the electoral code (https://www.arlis.am/DocumentView.aspx?DocID=105967) ensure that precinct centres have options for translating the text of the changing articles of the Constitution and the ballot paper into the languages of national minorities.

The Central electoral Commission of RA