The Strong Armenia party has responded to accusations by the Anti-Corruption Committee, claiming that the audio recording presented in the case is edited. The statement was made on Facebook by the party’s spokesperson Marianna Ghahramanyan.

She added that Strong Armenia conducts its activities within the framework of the Constitution and the law.

“The Strong Armenia party is a leading opposition force in Armenia, mobilizing a significant part of society and enjoying its unconditional support, which worries and frightens the authorities.

In the upcoming electoral process, the only glaring and ongoing illegal action is the disgraceful and clearly unlawful detention of our party leader Samvel Karapetyan, which has lasted for about ten months.

‘Strong Armenia’ operates within the Constitution and the law. The failed ‘film’ and the edited recording produced by law enforcement, acting as a tool in the hands of the authorities, follow a familiar pattern.

It is obvious that this no longer interests anyone, as everyone knows that the current authorities persecute people even for a single sentence, while the presumption of innocence has become a forgotten value,” the statement reads.

Earlier, Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee reported that a criminal case had been launched following searches at the office of the Mer Dzevov NGO in Metsamor, Armavir region, on suspicion of disguising election bribes as salaries and violating restrictions on charity. Five people were detained.