Armenia launches raids on Strong Armenia party offices

Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee said on Friday that law enforcement officers had conducted searches at the offices of the Strong Armenia Party in the country’s Lori region as part of an investigation into alleged electoral offences.

The searches were linked to a criminal case involving suspected vote-buying and obstruction of citizens’ electoral rights, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media.

“A number of searches and other procedural actions were carried out at the offices of the Strong Armenia Party in the Lori region within the framework of criminal proceedings into alleged electoral bribery and interference with the exercise of citizens’ voting rights,” the committee said.

Investigators allege that one of the party’s offices operated under the guise of an animal feed shop.

Several people have been detained while a preliminary investigation is ongoing.

Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan filed a lawsuit against Samvel Karapetyan, the chairman of the Strong Armenia Party, following controversial public allegations made against him.

Pashinyan confirmed the legal action while speaking to journalists during his leave.

The dispute stems from comments made by Karapetyan at a press conference, in which he alleged—without providing evidence—that Pashinyan had brought hallucinogenic mushrooms from China and used them before every public appearance.

By Aghakazim Guliyev