During report «Monitoring of democratic reforms in Armenia» head of «Democracy» public organization Vardan Poghosyan sounded today that on one hand CoE casts doubt on the process of and volume of participation in referendum on constitutional amendments and comes up with tough statements, on the other hand it welcomes the adopted amendments.

In the report Vardan Poghosyan gave lawful estimations to the constitutional amendments. He mentioned both positive amendments, and omissions. Introducing to the participants of the presentation of the report positive and negative amendments, Vardan Poghosyan stressed out the main drawback: “Non-legitimate Constitution got non-legitimate amendments”. He added then, that opposition is also to blame for falsified referendum, as by being passive it let the authorities realize adulterations and violations freely.

This appraisal, particularly wording «non-legitimate» regarding Constitution adopted in 1995, aroused ANM vice-chairman Aram Manoukyan’s indignation. Aram Manoukyan had also some remarks on the contents of constitutional amendments. He stressed on infringement during propaganda in pre-electoral period. «You had an opportunity to appear on different TV channels periodically, and I was not given a single minute of air», he noted.

«It comes from that I have what to say and you don't», - member of NDP administration Vardan Poghosyan parried.

As concerns opposition’s responsibility YPC President Boris Navasardyan stated that, of course, opposition could have done more than it has, yet international structures have greater deal of responsibility than opposition does.

By the way, this debates and all the sharp remarks that Vardan Poghosyan sounded as addressed to the authorities, were very attentively listened to by US. Ambassador John Evans, Armenian representative of OSCE Vladimir Pryakhin and other foreign officials. And no representative from our authorities: only representatives of oppositional parties and public organizations.