89 election crime cases launched, 128 detained

PanARMENIAN.Net - A total of 89 criminal proceedings have been initiated over alleged election-related offenses, while 128 individuals have been detained, Chairman of Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee Artur Nahapetyan said during a meeting with a delegation led by Philippe Courard, head of the observation mission of the International Organisation of La Francophonie.

The sides discussed the committee’s powers in investigating election-related crimes connected with Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary elections, as well as its role in ensuring the transparency and legality of the electoral process.

Speaking about efforts to combat electoral offenses and recent investigations, Nahapetyan said most of the cases involve allegations of vote-buying, accepting electoral bribes and violations of restrictions on charitable activities during the campaign period.

According to him, criminal prosecution has been initiated against 142 individuals. Of those, 65 have been placed under pretrial detention or house arrest. Preliminary investigations have already been completed in criminal cases involving 34 defendants.

Nahapetyan stressed that preventing electoral offenses is just as important as detecting them and said the committee has continued its work in that area as well.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties agreed to continue cooperation.

The election campaign, which began on May 8, will continue until June 5. June 6 will be observed as a day of silence, while parliamentary elections are scheduled for June 7. On May 25, the Alliance Progressive Centrist Party withdrew from the race, leading the Central Electoral Commission to cancel the registration of its electoral list. As a result, ballot paper No. 13 will not appear in the upcoming elections.