Searches and arrests targeting supporters of Strong Armenia began early in the morning in Stepanavan, according to lawmaker Andranik Gevorgyan.
“The authorities’ actions are extremely predictable, but what is happening has already gone beyond the bounds of reason. Yesterday’s display of ‘democracy’ and today’s blatant illegal actions are clear evidence of this,” he wrote on Facebook.
It later emerged that 14 people had been detained following searches at the Strong Armenia party’s office in Stepanavan. The Anti-Corruption Committee confirmed the detentions, Sputnik Armenia reported.
“In response, we confirm that the searches and other procedural actions are being carried out as part of criminal proceedings conducted by the Anti-Corruption Committee of the Republic of Armenia. Fourteen people have been detained. Additional information will be provided if necessary,” the committee said.
Local government elections are scheduled for October 25 in Stepanavan. The Strong Armenia party has nominated Arsen Gevorgyan as its candidate for the position of community head.
On October 19, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan published a message addressing candidates and voters participating in the local government elections. He urged anyone claiming to have faced unlawful pressure to contact him directly by emailing [email protected]. The prime minister also stressed that any official responsible for such actions would face public punishment.
As of October 20, only three citizens had responded to Pashinyan’s appeal, including Andranik Gevorgyan, a lawmaker from the Strong Armenia faction. Gevorgyan sent the prime minister several videos concerning cases in which Strong Armenia supporters or party members had been dismissed from their jobs in Stepanavan. However, the Armenian prime minister rejected the information presented by the lawmaker.
