Wanted Strong Armenia candidate detained

PanARMENIAN.Net - One of the three wanted parliamentary candidates from the Strong Armenia party has been located and taken into custody, according to Armenia's Investigative Committee.

The committee confirmed the detention, 1lurer.am reported.

According to the outlet, the detained individual is Vahe Tavakalyan.

Earlier, Armenia's Investigative Committee announced that criminal prosecution had been initiated against six parliamentary candidates from the Strong Armenia party as part of an investigation conducted by its Main Department for the Investigation of Particularly Important Cases.

The criminal proceedings concern alleged large-scale vote buying and money laundering involving especially large amounts.

The public criminal prosecution was initiated under Article 46-236, Part 2, and Article 296, Part 3, Clause 3 of Armenia's Criminal Code.

During the preliminary investigation, two of the suspects were arrested, while detention orders were issued for four others, who were subsequently placed on the wanted list.

On June 26, Armenia's Constitutional Court began hearings in the consolidated case examining appeals filed by seven political forces challenging the results of the June 7 regular parliamentary elections. The proceedings are ongoing.