Several people have been detained in Armenia on suspicion of voter bribery as the country holds parliamentary elections on June 7.
The Armenian Interior Ministry says police arrested three people in Gyumri after receiving a report that representatives of an unnamed political force were allegedly distributing election bribes outside a polling station. Officers reportedly found voter lists during a search and detained the suspects.
The arrests come as part of a broader crackdown on alleged election-related offenses across the country.
A search began early Sunday morning, and parliamentary candidate Hasmik Sagradyan was detained. Armenia’s National Security Service is also searching the apartment of human rights activist Karapet Poghosyan, while searches are underway at the headquarters of the ‘Strong Armenia’ alliance.
Authorities have not disclosed the identities or exact number of all those detained.
The Anti-Corruption Committee and the National Security Service claim that a parliamentary candidate from the ‘Strong Armenia’ alliance offered bribes to several residents of the Lori region in exchange for votes in the parliamentary elections.
‘Armenpress’ reports that several people have been detained in connection with the case, while searches and other investigative activities have been carried out.
Representatives of pro-Russian political forces were also detained on voter bribery charges on June 6.
Armenians are voting in parliamentary elections that are widely seen as a contest between the ruling party of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and several opposition groups, including parties viewed as having closer ties to Russia.
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