Ten of the 14 individuals detained in Stepanavan have been subjected to pretrial detention or house arrest as preventive measures, Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee told Sputnik Armenia.
Two female supporters of the Strong Armenia party have been placed under house arrest as a preventive measure.
Earlier, it became known that Arsen Gevorgyan, a candidate for head of the Stepanavan municipality, had been remanded in custody.
“Of the 14 individuals detained the previous day on charges of giving election bribes, facilitating bribery and receiving election bribes, 10 have been placed in pretrial detention or under house arrest. They include a candidate for head of the Stepanavan municipality and five candidates for the municipal council,” the committee said.
Alternative preventive measures not involving deprivation of liberty have been imposed on the remaining defendants.
Elections to the municipal council of the enlarged Stepanavan community in Armenia’s Lori region are scheduled for October 25.
On October 21, it emerged that 14 people had been detained following searches at the Stepanavan office of the Strong Armenia party. According to the Anti-Corruption Committee, they are accused of giving election bribes, facilitating such payments and receiving election bribes.
