Armenia has passed the last twelve month an intensive electoral process:  After extensive discussions and consultation with different election stakeholders, the Armenian Parliament adopted a new electoral code in 2016. At the same time local elections were held in most of the municipalities still based on the old electoral code. Parliamentary elections held in April 2017 were the first elections ruled by the new electoral code. And the Election cycle didn´t close, but passed its climax finally with the Yerevan Municipal Elections in May 2017. 

In order to evaluate the process, the improvements and remaining challenges for the conduct of free and fair elections in Armenia, the Council of Europe organises on 15 June 2017 in Yerevan, Armenia the conference "Electoral Developments in Armenia: Lessons Learned and Steps Ahead"

The conference aims to draw lessons from the organisation and management of the 2016 local elections, the 2017 parliamentary elections and the Yerevan Municipal Elections in view of their compliance with European and international standards and for further improvement of the electoral process in Armenia. Members of the government and local communities, the Central Election Commission, political party representatives, international community, media and civil society are invited to examine the progress in election administration, the effects of the changes of the legal framework and the role of the different electoral stakeholders and to discuss anticipated challenges ahead of the future elections in the country.

The conference will be opened by Ms Natalia Voutova, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Armenia, H.E. Mr the Ambassador Piotr Antoni Switalski, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Armenia and Mr Tigran Mukuchyan, Chairman of Central Election Commission of the Republic of Armenia.

This event will take place at 10:00 on the 15th of June, in Radisson Blu Hotel, in Yerevan.