According to a study conducted by the Center for the Promotion of Applied Research and Initiatives (CPARI), antidemocratic processes are endemic in the Armenian electoral system, arka.am reported on 26 May citing Masis Pogoian, CPARI’s director. The study, entitled “Armenian Antidemocratic Electoral Processes,” specifically noted that the system suffers from widespread misappropriation of administrative resources, vote-buying, corrupt electoral commissions, and public opinion manipulation. According to Pogoian, the underlying reason for the antidemocratic tendencies is a lack of checks and balances between Armenia’s three branches of government, the absence of independent political parties and the public’s apathy in resolving these problems. Pogoian believes that these tendencies can only be overcome through legislative reforms and information awareness campaigns. CPARI’s report was made possible through a grant from the Caucasus Center for Research Resources (KTIR), a nonprofit organization in the South Caucasus whose primary function is the conduct of substantive research on a cooperative basis in the region.  (www.mmb-info.org, www.arka.am, May 26)