General Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia reports about scale of violations at elections

The General Prosecutor’s Office received 31 reports about violations in the local elections in Armenia, and based on one of them, an investigation into a criminal case on giving a pre-election bribe was launched, the General Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia reported. Other 25 reports about violations are being checked.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on October 17, voting took place in the elections in six communities of the Shirak, Syunik, and Tavush Regions of Armenia. The ruling “Civil Contract” Party lost to the opposition in the elections in Gyumri, Goris, and Megri. Pro-government candidates won in Dilidjan, Teg, and Tatev, the Election Commission of Armenia reported.

Observers reported the use of administrative resources in the elections and registered cases of organized transportation of voters to polling stations by supporters of the ruling party and violation of the requirements for visual campaigning.

On October 17, the police detained Arutyun Sinanyan, a candidate for membership in the Goris Council of Elders from the “Arush Arushanyan” bloc, who, at a request of his elderly neighbour, helped her to reach a polling station. On the same day, in Goris, the police searched the office of the “Arush Arushanyan” bloc in connection with the criminal case against the father of Arush Arushanyan, suspected of distributing pre-election bribes. Colleagues of Arush Arushanyan considered the actions of the police to be the use of administrative resources on the election day.