Education Ministry Seeks Clarification on Claims of Illegal Campaigning in Schools

YEREVAN””Armenia’s Education Ministry said Monday that it is investigating claims by an Armenian civic organization, which published recordings from public school officials from throughout the country admitting to alleged illegal pressuring of their staff and students’ parent to vote for the ruling Republican Party of Armenia in the upcoming April 2 Parliamentary elections.

Azatutyun.am reported Friday that a member of the Union of Informed Citizens, posing as a Republican Party of Armenia member, telephoned the directors of 136 schools and kindergartens in and outside Yerevan. It said 114 of them admitted drawing up lists of children’s parents as well as schoolteachers and kindergarten staff who pledged to back the RPA in the April 2 elections.

The UIC claimed that according to the conversations with the school officials, the lists were submitted to local government bodies or RPA campaign offices. The UIC also released on social media what it claimed to be the recordings of the conversations with the school officials.

“We phoned all administrative districts in Yerevan and all provinces,”