Armenian vice speaker accuses opposition of voter bribery

Armenia’s Parliament Vice Speaker Ruben Rubinyan has accused opposition-linked figures of attempting to bribe voters and warned that those involved would face arrest, according to Armenian media cited by Caliber.Az.

Rubinyan said he had received a large number of reports alleging that individuals associated with former President Robert Kocharyan, businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, and Russian-based oligarch Samvel Karapetyan were actively distributing election bribes.

“I have already received hundreds of letters about attempts to distribute election bribes by members of the teams of Kocharyan, Tsarukyan, and especially the Kaluga oligarch (Samvel Karapetyan, ed.),” he stated.

According to Rubinyan, the information he collected includes detailed personal data. “All the data — names, phone numbers, addresses — I have already forwarded to the relevant authorities,” he said.

He issued a direct warning to those allegedly involved: “So, ‘respected’ manipulators, bribe-givers and other scoundrels, get ready: they will come for you, do not hope that you will escape — all of you, one after another, will be arrested!”

Rubinyan also called on the public to report suspected violations, promising confidentiality. “And to you, dear citizens, I want to remind once again: if you have any information about cases of election bribery by anyone, write to me. I will anonymously, without disclosing your data, pass it on to law enforcement authorities,” he added.

By Tamilla Hasanova