The number of people detained for election violations in Armenia has risen to 18.

Amid opposition complaints about numerous violations of electoral law by members of the ruling party, the Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that a total of 18 people have been detained for election violations.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," the election campaign in Armenia is underway in a tense atmosphere. Observers have previously reported widespread violations, and the opposition has complained of the use of administrative resources and the mass detention of its supporters. Specifically, on June 7, Prosperous Armenia announced that 50 of its supporters had been detained. Security forces conducted searches at the headquarters of the "Armenia" bloc and the headquarters of "Strong Armenia." After more than 50% of the ballots have been processed, the ruling Civil Contract party remains in the lead, with 51.71% of the vote.

On June 7, 619 reports of election violations were received by the 112 hotline and the 112 hotline. The information received from 338 of these reports is being investigated, the Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported.

"37 violations involved violations of the secrecy of the ballot, 24 violations of the right to vote, six violations of the electoral process, bribery, carrying a bladed weapon at a polling station, and hooliganism. Eighteen people have been detained," the ministry clarified on its Facebook page* on June 7.

As a reminder, the opposition previously complained that members of the ruling Civil Contract party were committing widespread violations at polling stations, while the Central Election Commission and the Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs were inactive. Observers reported video recording at polling stations, attempts to influence the vote, and deceased people on the voter lists.

There were also difficulties in allowing unregistered people to vote, and the ombudsman received 59 complaints about election violations.

The high turnout in the parliamentary elections in Armenia was a consequence of public mobilization and the perception of voting as a choice of the country's future path, political scientists previously interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" noted.

The elections effectively became a referendum on the future of the current government and the country's foreign policy, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "2026 Elections to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia".

* Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) is banned in Russia.