The European Union (EU) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) promise to support free and fair general elections in Armenia in 2012 and 2013, presenting their joint project, estimated at 1.7 million euro.

Meanwhile, some political forces and civil activists have concerns that the funds “will not serve their purpose,” because from the very beginning they are given to non-free institutions.

Acting head of OSCE Yerevan office Carel Hofstra at the press conference on Thursday stated that within the framework of the project local observers and more than 2,000 members of the electoral commissions will attend trainings.

Funds will be allotted to organize trainings for law enforcement, as well as to strengthen the Ombudsman office, particularly to open six offices in provinces of Armenia.

However, civil activists warn that “recurrently funds will be wasted without securing serious outcomes.”

“Ahead of each election, international organizations invest serious funds in training projects, however, every time the elections are held even more disgracefully and under smart and severe pressure,” says Arthur Sakunts, Head of Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor Office.

According to Sakunts, the members of the commission, law enforcement and Ombudsman Office employees, all of them are controlled by the authorities and depend on them, and no matter how much they are trained, if they have orders from above (from the authorities) to commit violations, or not to notice violations and slur them over, they will do that anyway.

“Meanwhile, yet at previous elections we suggested investing funds in installment of video recording devices in all polling stations and to shoot the whole voting process. This would be a serious guarantee and material evidence, however it was not done,” Sakunts says.