Four opposition supporters were detained in Noyemberyan.
Security forces detained four supporters of the opposition "Armenia" bloc at a polling station in Noyemberyan.
As "Caucasian Knot" reported, parliamentary elections are taking place in Armenia today. At 8:00 a.m. local time (7:00 a.m. Moscow time), 2,005 polling stations opened for voters. Early in the morning, before the polling stations opened, security forces searched the "Armenia" bloc headquarters in Gyumri and detained candidate Hasmik Sagradyan. Searches were also conducted at the headquarters of the "Strong Armenia" party.
Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan announced that today, on election day, security forces detained 50 of his supporters.
Four supporters of the "Armenia" bloc were taken away from polling station #37/19 in Noyemberyan without explanation by NSS and Anti-Corruption Committee officers, Yerevan.Today reports. "Their whereabouts are unknown," the publication states.
In Gyumri, according to parliamentary candidate Karen Simonyan, more than 10 supporters of the "Armenia" bloc were detained early this morning. Security forces came to their apartments and to their headquarters, located in the Ani district. The security forces did not provide any explanation for these detentions, the publication writes.
The Armenia bloc includes the Dashnaktsutyun (ARF) and the Revival Armenia Party. The "Strong Armenia" bloc, along with the party of the same name, includes the "New Era," "United Armenians," and "Country for Life" parties.
If the current government's "Civil Contract" party wins the elections, then further developments in Azerbaijani-Armenian relations "will proceed beautifully and uninterestingly," the author of the "Wind from Absheron" blog predicted today on the "Caucasian Knot."
"A peace treaty, opening roads and borders, hugs, various forms of mutual support in defense against Russia. Boring, no action. If the three-headed hydra "For Putin" wins, exciting years will begin in Armenia," he wrote in his post "Armenian elections more interesting than football championship.""
In his opinion, "dangerous activity is expected tomorrow or the day after if Pashinyan wins." "Then Russia will launch 'Plan B' with thousands of planted Cossacks taking to the streets," the publication states.
As a reminder, in the run-up to the elections, Armenian authorities increased pressure on opposition supporters, and opposition representatives declared the authorities' abuse of administrative resources.
The most pro-Russian participants in the elections are 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. According to analysts, the parties of Samvel Karapetyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Robert Kocharyan will be key competitors in the elections.
The 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".