Today we are witnessing another manifestation of violations of the electoral process by the Pashinyan authorities. Just days before the local government elections in Stepanavan, the Strong Armenia party's candidate for community leader of Stepanavan, Arsen Gevorgyan, and 14 supporters were arrested. The opposition Strong Armenia party on Wednesday noted this in a statement.
"For political reasons and convenience, hidden video camera recordings were used and edited videos were distributed.
This is not democracy. This is a dangerous practice of abusing the law and state structures in order to maintain power at all costs, when accusations are made before the facts are established, and political retribution is presented as justice.
We are witnessing the same anti-democratic practices for which European institutions criticized [Armenian PM Nikol] Pashinyan’s authorities after the June national elections.
According to the latest PACE report, electoral violations were recorded in virtually half of the polling stations [in Armenia].
Pashinyan talks about democratic elections; his actions, however, are typical of a dictator. These arrests are not only anti-democratic, but also contradict the interests of the citizens of Stepanavan who want change.
Pashinyan wants to completely oversee Armenia so that he can fulfill all of [Azerbaijani President Ilham] Aliyev’s demands and make new concessions. One of such concessions is the unprofitable TRIPP version for Armenia, which serves the interests of Azerbaijan, not Armenia. Such concessions will not bring peace, but will only lead to new aggression from Azerbaijan.
There will be changes [in Armenia], they are close, despite Pashinyan’s actions.
We call on the voters of Stepanavan not to be afraid and to participate in the vote.
Your vote is secret, and it is with your participation that changes can begin in Stepanavan,” adds the Strong Armenia party statement.