At the invitation of the Civilitas Foundation, concerned citizens and political leaders met to discuss the civil and human right: right to elect, in light of the just-concluded Yerevan city elections.

The meeting took place at the Yerevan Hotel, Rossini Room. Mr. Armen Harutyunyan, Ombudsman, and Mr. Vartan Oskanian, President of the Board of the Civilitas Foundation, opened the discussion with an overview of all that is at stake for a newly developing democracy if the institution of elections does not take hold. Mr. Harutyunyan spoke about the fact that the low turnout says much about the opposition’s inability to attract and keep its own supporters, because the bulk of the Yerevan city electorate is in opposition to those currently in office. He said that the "apathy that causes this is as much a problem for the authorities as it is for the opposition, just as the cause of this apathy is also partly the authorities’ responsibility."

Others, including representatives of various political parties, spoke about what ought to come next to improve the political and social environment in which elections take place.

Mr. Oskanian opened the program asking that the discussion focus on what to do to improve the process in order to improve perceptions of fairness and legitimacy.