Criminal Case Launched in Gegharkunik Over Vote Bribery, Two Detained

On June 9, 2021, the Gegharkunik regional department of the RA Police received operational information regarding the provision of bribes in natural materials by representatives of one of the political parties participating in the upcoming extraordinary parliamentary elections scheduled for June 20.

Preliminary investigations revealed that on June 8, 2021, at approximately 21:20, the head of the party’s local office in Gavar, identified as A.A., moved around 80 packages of food from the office to an apartment of the secretary, S.Z., instructing him to distribute them to the voters according to a list.

Starting from the morning of June 9, S.Z. distributed one package of food worth about 7000 AMD as a bribe to each of 8 voters to vote in favor of the party.

Given that the materials prepared contain evident signs of a crime involving bribery of two or more voters by a group of individuals acting in collusion, a criminal case has been initiated at the Gegharkunik regional department of the RA Police under Article 154.2, Part 1, and Part 4, Points 1 and 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia.

As a result of the actions taken, A.A. and S.Z. have been detained by the police department in Gavar. Measures are being taken to determine the possible involvement of other individuals in the mentioned criminal acts.

Notice: A suspect or accused individual is considered innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia, by a legally enforceable court verdict.