Davit Ghazinyan, a parliamentary candidate from the Strong Armenia party, has been detained, according to Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee, Sputnik Armenia reports.

The committee stated that the charge brought against Ghazinyan relates to the preparation of election bribery.

Earlier on June 17, Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission approved two requests submitted by the Prosecutor General’s Office: one to lift Ghazinyan’s immunity and another to authorize criminal proceedings against him.

Following that decision, law enforcement authorities carried out his detention.

Ghazinyan has rejected the accusations, while investigators say they have obtained evidence related to alleged election bribery activities.

Before the Central Electoral Commission session, Ghazinyan denied the allegations against him and stated that he had not transferred money to anyone. He also expressed the view that the commission would approve the prosecutor’s requests and argued that the proceedings were aimed at his political activity and the Strong Armenia alliance.

The Anti-Corruption Committee had previously reported obtaining factual data indicating that Ghazinyan, acting in prior agreement with a group of supporters, allegedly provided election bribes to voters.