Arrest of Coalition Parliamentary Candidate and Another Individual on Suspicion of Bribery

The National Security Service of Armenia has obtained factual data through materials prepared by the Yerevan city department that a group of residents in the Kanaker-Zeytun administrative district came to a preliminary agreement to participate in the early parliamentary elections of the Republic of Armenia scheduled for June 20. They allegedly promised or offered cash bribes of 20,000 AMD to a number of voters in the same administrative district to vote in favor of the coalition and the candidate for parliament included in its list.

The Public Relations Department of the Prosecutor General's Office reported that a criminal case has been initiated in the Prosecutor General’s Office concerning the bribery of voters by a group of individuals, which falls under the characteristics of Article 154.2, Part 1 and Part 4, Clauses 1 and 2, and Article 154.9, Part 1 of the RA Criminal Code. The criminal case has been sent to the Special Investigative Service of Armenia for further investigation.

Two individuals have been arrested on suspicion of committing these acts. Considering that one of them is included in the list of parliamentary candidates of the coalition, the prosecutor overseeing the legality of the pre-investigation has submitted requests to the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Armenia for permission to initiate criminal proceedings and to deprive him of his freedom under the law.

The investigation is ongoing.