Lawyer: Investigative body seeks to restrict political rights of Gyumri opposition bloc activists

The investigative body is attempting to restrict the political rights of the opposition Our City bloc activists in Gyumri by requesting the Anti-Corruption Court to impose administrative supervision on them, lawyer Arsen Babayan announced on Friday.

Law enforcement officers raided the campaign offices of the Our City bloc led by Martun Grigoryan as well as his house before arresting the latter’s father and son on Thursday. The Anti-Corruption Committee said the crackdown was part of a criminal investigation into allegations that some election contenders were trying to buy votes. Grigoryan denied the accusations as politically motivated.

Babayan explained that the measure would bar the opposition activists, including two candidates for the Gyumri City Council, from communicating with people connected to the election campaign or visiting campaign offices.

The lawyer called their ongoing arrests unlawful, noting that once the Anti-Corruption Committee announced administrative supervision, the activists should have been released. "Holding them beyond that point is illegal," he asserted.