Armenia's top court concludes hearings on election challenges

Armenia's Constitutional Court has concluded hearings on petitions filed by seven political groups challenging the results of the June 7 parliamentary elections and has retired to deliberate its ruling.

Constitutional Court Chairman Arman Dilanyan said the court is expected to announce its decision by the end of July 4, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

"We will try to notify all parties involved in due time so they can attend the announcement of the decision. I now declare the hearings concluded, and the Constitutional Court retires to deliberate," Dilanyan noted.

The court began hearing the consolidated petitions on June 26. The applicants include the opposition Strong Armenia alliance led by Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, the Armenia alliance of former President Robert Kocharyan, and the Prosperous Armenia party led by businessman Gagik Tsarukyan.

Prosperous Armenia narrowly failed to clear the 4% threshold required to enter parliament after the Central Election Commission declined to hold repeat voting at three polling stations where the results had been annulled.

The plaintiffs have asked the Constitutional Court either to invalidate the election results and order a new vote or to mandate a second round of voting.

Under Armenia's Constitutional Court law, the court may uphold the Central Election Commission's decision, invalidate the election results, invalidate the results and determine a new allocation of parliamentary seats, or order a second round of voting.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov