Four jailed in Armenia election bribery case

PanARMENIAN.Net - Four individuals detained within a criminal investigation into alleged vote-buying, illegal charitable activity and interference with the free exercise of voting rights have been placed in pretrial detention, Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee said, according to Factor.am .

The arrests relate to a publication issued on May 19. According to the committee, investigators established that, at the organization of a candidate from the Strong Armenia party, several individuals paid apartment rental fees for a number of voters in Armenia’s Lori Province despite legal prohibitions.

The committee stated that members of the group used intermediaries and vehicles belonging to third parties in an effort to avoid detection and reduce traceability of their actions. Funds were allegedly distributed mainly in cash, while employees of affiliated companies and people connected to them were involved in receiving and distributing the money.

Investigators also said the group planned to use Russian bank cards for financial transactions in order to complicate oversight of the movement of funds.

The election campaign that began on May 8 will continue until June 5. June 6 will be observed as a day of silence, and elections will be held on June 7.