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As reported, the Central Election Commission at a meeting today decided to reject New Harmony party's request to invalidate the Riga Election Commission's decision to approve the results of last Saturday's Riga City Council elections and the election results reported by polling stations No 97 and 144.

After this decision, New Harmony representative Janis Kuzins told LETA that he would challenge the result of the election in court. If his lawsuit is rejected in Latvia, Kuzins will file a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). 

The Central Election Commission's chairperson Kristine Berzina told LETA that if someone decides to challenge the result of the election in court, the newly elected city council will not be able to start work until the court delivers its verdict.

The Central Election Commission's decisions can be appealed within three days by filing an an application with the Administrative Regional Court, which has to deliver its ruling withing seven days. The Administrative Regional Court's ruling is final and cannot be further appealed. 

As reported, while counting the votes cast at these polling stations, 627 ballot envelopes without the polling stations' stamps were found in the ballot boxes. According to the Central Election Commission's regulations, the ballot papers inside these envelopes had to be declared invalid and could not be counted.

Also, several voters were not provided the opportunity to vote at home, as representatives of the election commission did not visit them even though these people had officially requested such visits.

Altogether, representatives of four political parties that took part in the Riga City Council elections - New Harmony, Harmony, Latvia's Russian Union and Alternative - submitted applications disputing the results of the elections.