Jailed opposition figure seeks to run in Armenia local elections

PanARMENIAN.Net - Member of Sasna Tsrer movement Arayik Khandoyan who is currently imprisoned following his surrender to law enforcement bodies after seizing a police HQ in Yerevan, said he wants to run for local elections.

An armed group known as Sasna Tsrer (Daredevils of Sassoun) stormed a Yerevan police patrol department in mid-July and took everyone inside hostage. Throughout the following days, the group released the captives one by one. After negotiations that lasted for a little over two weeks, the gunmen agreed to surrender to the law enforcement bodies. Three police officers were killed during this period.

Khandoyan, in particular, wants to become the chief of Tsaghkahovit community in Armenia’s Aragatsotn province.

“For already three days, the Nubarashen detention facility and the Special Investigative Service refuse to approve my power of attorney, according to which my confidant will organize my candidature in Tsaghkahovit community,” Khandoyan said via his lawyer Arayik Papikyan.

“Authorities thus add one more illegal act to the criminal prosecution against me by hampering the exercise of my electoral rights."

Another hopeful running for the same post, Ashot Hakobyan from opposition Prosperous Armenia party promised to withdraw in case Khandoyan enters the race.

Local elections are slated for September 18.