Harutiun Hambartsumian, head of the domestic election observation NGO It’s Your Choice takes notes while talking to his local coordinator, Massis, Ararat Region, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2005

RFE/RL reports what we already know. The referendum to amend the constitution was rigged to such an astonishing extent that there is now no doubt whatsoever that the Armenian government is not committed to the process of democratization that was meant to bring the former Soviet republic closer to Europe.

The 14-member monitoring team from the council’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRAE) singled out a paradoxically high turnout that was reported by the Armenian authorities despite empty polling stations across the country.

According to preliminary figures released by the Central Election Commission, as many as 1.5 million Armenians, or nearly two thirds of the 2.3 million eligible voters, took part in Sunday’s referendum and 93.8 percent of them voted for the amendments. To pass, the amendments had to be endorsed by at least 767,000 voters. The figures sharply contrast with strong anecdotal evidence of a lack of public interest in the process.

RFE/RL also quotes Harutiun Hambartsumian who I spent yesterday with observing mostly empty polling stations in 95 percent of those we visited, while the Council of Europe seem to be bitterly disappointed in the way the referendum was conducted.

“The delegation considers that the abuses that marred the referendum were against the intent and the interest of the Armenian people,” O’Brien added, calling on the Armenian authorities to bring “those responsible for fraud” to account.

The official turnout was openly rejected as fraudulent by the head of Armenia’s largest election-monitoring organization called It’s Your Choice. “The figure is really unbelievable,” Harutiun Hambartsumian told RFE/RL. He said the group, which deployed over 2,000 observers, will release a detailed report on the referendum Tuesday.

Still, no matter, Armenia has a new constitution passed fraudently that, when it comes into force in two years, will be as ineffectual and meaningless as the one it replaces. Even so, the government continue to carry on the charade and say that the referendum was conducted properly.

Ara Manoogian posts that Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was even taken off the air, and one can only guess that this was because it was broadcasting news reporting the real situation at polling stations across the country while others broadcast misinformation from the Central Elections Commission.

Well, anyway, A1 Plus reports that the opposition will decide on its strategy tomorrow, but I wouldn’t advise anyone to hold their breath. I’m also a little bit confused as to why the opposition didn’t have a strategy ready, especially when we all knew what was going to happen. Sorry, I forgot, it’s the opposition in Armenia that we’re talking about…

For example, when the authorities always close the roads into Yerevan ahead of political rallies expected to draw attendees from the region, why not announce your intention to do the same so that the police can prepare themselves? And when you announce that you’ve launched a campaign of civil disobedience why not move your rally elsewhere when the Mayor refuses to grant permission for you to hold it in a specific location?

RFE/RL reports on the opposition’s last chance to make a last big bang that will probably turn into a whimper before the 2007 parliamentary elections.

Sarkisian indicated that the opposition coalition has a “clear plan of action” and will stage a bigger protest on Tuesday. He admitted that it has yet to gather a “critical mass” of protesters ready to resist security forces.

Sarkisian revealed that the opposition will try to mobilize greater support in Yerevan and bus supporters from other parts of the country into the capital. “All those citizens of the Republic of Armenia who do not accept this impudent fraud must start gathering here tomorrow at 3 p.m.,” he said. “Those who have cars must protest by honking their horns. Their sound must resonate all over Yerevan.”

The call prompted a stern warning from the police. “Some representatives of the police called on participants of their rally to resort to actions that involve violation of public order,” a police spokesman told RFE/RL. “The police are determined to counter any attempts to disrupt public order and make sure that those have legal consequences.”