Artur Ohanian ran in the June 7 parliamentary elections on the Hayastan ticket and coordinated the opposition bloc’s activities in the northern Armenian city of Vanadzor. He used to hold a senior position in Vanadzor’s municipal administration. Hayastan did not immediately react to his arrest.
The Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC) did not publicize any details of the accusations leveled against Ohanian and another local resident also arrested by it. The ACC said only that the criminal case relates to “instances of giving and receiving election bribes.”
Hundreds of other opposition activists, members and supporters, mostly affiliated with another opposition group led by billionaire Samvel Karapetian, were arrested on the same charges ahead of the disputed elections. No such cases were brought against members of the ruling Civil Contract party accused by the Armenian opposition of buying votes with public money.
Election observers from the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) noted in this regard “perceptions of selective law enforcement” in Armenia.
“Recent government social programs introduced shortly before the elections such as targeted debts forgiveness, and easing driving penalties were regarded as de facto campaign tools despite their technical compliance with election law,” they said in a report presented during a session of the PACE on Monday.
Pashinian vowed to jail Kocharian and another opposition leader, Gagik Tsarukian, during and after the election campaign. The ex-president and Tsarukian were arrested on different charges in August and July respectively.