Pro-Russian blogger Mika Badalyan is suspected of distributing election bribes.

Armenia's Anti-Corruption Committee has opened a criminal case against blogger Mikael Badalyan, who promised favors to Armenian citizens living in Russia in exchange for participation in the upcoming National Assembly elections.

As reported by Caucasian Knot, Moscow's attempts to influence the outcome of the elections are intensifying daily. "On June 1, an investigation was published that shows how Moscow, with the help of pro-Russian blogger Mika Badalyan, is organizing flights for Russians with Armenian passports to Armenia on the eve of the elections. They even gave a precise date: June 4. They are buying tickets for anyone who wants them, meaning they are giving out free round-trip tickets. This is also interference in the elections, which is punishable under Armenian law," said political scientist Harutyun Mkrtchyan.

The Anti-Corruption Committee has received sufficient factual evidence of cases of election bribes paid to hundreds of Armenian citizens residing in the Russian Federation by Russia-based blogger Mika Badalyan, in the form of promises of favors and other benefits conditioned on their participation in the upcoming National Assembly elections. In this regard, the Anti-Corruption Committee has initiated criminal proceedings, the agency reported today on its official website.

The Committee specifically emphasized that the identities of those citizens who allegedly received election bribes are being established in order to bring them to justice.

"The Anti-Corruption Committee calls on citizens who received an election bribe or have information about its offer to cooperate with the preliminary investigation body by providing information and circumstances known to them, and to refrain from committing any actions related to election bribery, influencing the will of voters, or other electoral offenses," the statement reads.

On June 1, the Ateo Breaking Telegram channel reported on screenshots in which activist Mika Badalyan offers free air tickets from Moscow to Yerevan for June 4.

"We have obtained screenshots in which activist Mika Badalyan, associated with the foundation "Eurasia," funded by Russia, is offering free air tickets from Moscow to Yerevan for June 4. "Screenshots were provided by activist Arshak Makichyan," the Telegram channel said.

Mika Badalyan himself commented on the decision to open a criminal case against him on his Telegram channel.

"I certainly didn't break the law, and I don't intend to make excuses, and I've always considered the repressions from the Pashinyan regime a great honor. We will consider this criminal case the last 'gift' for my activities from the traitorous regime," he said.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that Alik Aleksanyan, a member of the Strong Armenia opposition bloc, has been taken into custody. He is suspected of money laundering and bribing Armenian citizens in the political interests of businessman Samvel Karapetyan.