Opposition candidates were detained in Yeghenadzor and Martuni.
On the eve of the municipal elections, security forces detained opposition candidates vying for the positions of community heads — candidate from the "Republic" party David Arutyunyan in Yeghenadzor and member of the Council of the Republican Party of Armenia Aram Karapetyan in Martuni.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the municipal elections on October 25 in Armenia are accompanied by the detention of opposition members. Thus, on October 21 in Stepanavan, security forces detained 14 people, including the candidate for the position of community head from "Strong Armenia" Arsen Gevorgyan, who was subsequently arrested. By October 23, the number of detainees in the case of alleged voter bribery reached 24. Gevorgyan's defense rejected the accusations, stating that the money was intended for campaign expenses. The candidate for the position of community head in Artik, Arthur Astoyan, and members of his team were detained a day before the municipal elections, reported the opposition party "Country for Life".
Security forces detained candidate from the "Republic" party David Arutyunyan, participating in the elections for local self-government in the enlarged community of Yeghenadzor, and several members of his team, sources from Armenia Today report.
Arutyunyan is the current head of the community and the main rival of the "Civil Contract" candidate Usik Saakyan in the upcoming municipal elections.
Also this morning — just one day before the elections — representatives of the opposition bloc "Our Community" were detained in Martuni, including the candidate for the position of community head, member of the Council of the Republican Party of Armenia Aram Karapetyan, according to the party's statement.
"This is classic political persecution, political repression, and a manifestation of intimidation against the opposition. Being in opposition is not a crime, and fair elections cannot be held in an atmosphere of political pressure and fear. This is the real picture of those 'free, fair, and equal' elections, about which we have repeatedly warned of the risks. Electoral fraud, political inequality, and abuse of administrative resources have become the main tools of the political practice of this power. The authorities, lacking a solid foundation of public trust, are trying to solve their political problems with the help of security forces, subordinating the state system to the preservation of their own power," the party's statement is quoted by News.Am.
"Within the framework of criminal proceedings initiated by the Anti-Corruption Committee regarding corruption crimes in the electoral sphere, evidentiary and other procedural actions are being conducted in a number of communities in the RA, and there are also detainees. Based on the interests of the preliminary investigation, we cannot provide any other information at this time," representatives of the agency "Ishkhanutyun" are quoted as saying.
The Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia did not deny the information, but refused to name the detainees.
On October 25, 2026, elections will be held in the communities of Artashat in the Ararat region, Armavir and Araks in the Armavir region, Gavar, Martuni, and Vardenis in the Gegharkunik region, Razdan, Tsakhkadzor, and Garni in the Kotayk region, Artik and Akhuryan in the Shirak region, Goris and Meghri in the Syunik region, Yeghenadzor, Vayk, and Jermuk in the Vayots Dzor region, Ijevan and Dilijan in the Tavush region, Stepanavan in the Lori region, while elections will be held in the communities of Violetovo in the Lori region and Shamir in the Aragatsotn region by the majoritarian electoral system, the publication reported earlier.