Armenian opposition leader warns arrests signal pressure ahead of 2026 elections

Artur Vanetsyan, the leader of Armenia’s opposition Homeland Party, claims the arrest of his party members serve as a warning to all opposition forces, accusing the authorities of using fabricated cases to intimidate critics ahead of 2026 parliamentary elections.

Speaking to reporters outside the Anti-Corruption Court in Yerevan on Tuesday, Vanetsyan said the government’s “usual modus operandi” was to target people with opposition views. “Anyone holding opposition views is not protected from the authorities one day deciding to arrest them on fabricated charges,” he said.

The court was hearing a detention request against Homeland Party member Khachik Galstyan. Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee said the case concerns alleged vote-buying during the recent municipal elections in Echmiadzin.

Vanetsyan rejected the allegations, calling the case “another absurd criminal proceeding” with no legal basis. “This case cannot lead to a guilty verdict because no crime has been committed,” he stated.

He said the Homeland Party had not distributed money as vote bribes and that no evidence existed to support the claim. Vanetsyan also questioned the timing of the arrests, noting that the local elections took place on November 16, while the action came on December 30. “Why this happened now is unclear to me and raises questions,” he said.

Asked whether Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was seeking to pressure him personally, Vanetsyan replied: “Pashinyan may want many things. Pressuring me is impossible.”

Vanetsyan warned that the arrests could pave the way for broader pressure on opposition figures ahead of nationwide elections, including detentions and intimidation aimed at disrupting political activity. He also said Armenia had an “unprecedented number of political prisoners,” adding that none had committed real crimes.