13:02, 2 June 2026

Suspects in voter bribery case detained in Armenia

Suspects have been detained in the Kotayk region in connection with a vote-buying case. Investigators believe the head of the local office of the "Strong Armenia" opposition bloc to be one of the perpetrators.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," the Anti-Corruption Committee announced in April-May that it had opened criminal cases against members of "Strong Armenia" suspected of vote-buying. These statements were accompanied by the publication of recordings of telephone conversations in which they discussed the size of election bribes, the number of people who could be invited to the party's rally, the provision of food and clothing as assistance, and so on. "Strong Armenia" publicly denies the accusations, calling the recordings falsified.

According to investigators, voters were offered money, including under the guise of payments, in exchange for votes for "Strong Armenia." Security forces also alleged bribery of Armenian citizens to ensure their participation in rallies. On May 29, candidate Gohar Meloyan called the recordings released by the Anti-Corruption Committee "shameful interference" in the activities of "Strong Armenia." She asserted that "Strong Armenia" does not need to bribe voters. "We've clearly been targeted," Meloyan said.

A man being detained. Illustration created by Caucasian Knot using AI in the Copilot program

07:10 30.04.2026

Security forces detained five representatives of "Strong Armenia"

The head of the Strong Armenia regional office in the Byureghavan community of Kotayk Province is suspected of promising and delivering an election bribe to a community resident for voting in their favor, the Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia reported today.

"A criminal case has been opened, the suspects have been detained, searches and other procedural actions have been conducted," the committee's website stated. The agency did not specify how many people were detained or whether the head of the Strong Armenia office was among them.

In a recording published by the agency, one of the men can be heard claiming to have received approximately 300,000 drams (approximately $814) over two months, Sputnik-Armenia reported today.

As a reminder, amid preparations for the elections, the authorities have increased pressure on opposition supporters. On May 16, security forces detained 10 Strong Armenia supporters suspected of obstructing the ruling party's election campaign. Six of them were taken into custody, and four were placed under house arrest.

On May 22, NSS officers searched the office of the Mother Armenia party and the apartment of its leader, Andranik Tevanyan, who is second on the Prosperous Armenia party's list of candidates. Tevanyan is accused of treason and espionage. The court remanded him in custody for two months, allowing him to participate in the election process through representatives.

Armenian parliamentary elections are scheduled for June 7. Seventeen parties and two blocs have been admitted. The "Strong Armenia" bloc of businessman Samvel Karapetyan, the "Armenia" bloc of former president Robert Kocharyan and the "Prosperous Armenia" party of oligarch Gagik Tsarukyan are the most pro-Russian participants in the upcoming elections. According to analysts, the parties of Samvel Karapetyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Robert Kocharyan will be key competitors in the elections.

The June elections will effectively become a referendum on the future of the current government and Armenia's foreign policy, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "2026 Elections to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia".

Translated automatically via Google translate from https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/423754