Armenian opposition accuses ruling party of pressuring school directors, businesses ahead of elections

An opposition lawmaker has accused Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party of using administrative pressure against school directors and business owners ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections, saying government‑aligned officials are allowed to campaign freely while opponents face dismissal or harassment.

Speaking at a parliament session on Wednesday, Garnik Danielyan of the opposition Hayastan bloc said principals linked to the ruling party can openly engage in political activity without consequence. “If a school director is opposition‑aligned, within 15 minutes they are forced out of their job,” he told lawmakers.

Danielyan also alleged that opposition groups struggle to rent office space for campaign headquarters. “At first the landlord agrees, then after phone calls says, ‘I don’t want trouble, I can’t give you the space,’” he said.

The MP added that local officials sometimes threaten community leaders and entrepreneurs with criminal cases or tax inspections if they fail to deliver votes or cooperate with the authorities.

Central Election Commission Chairman Vahagn Hovakimyan responded that the commission requires evidence to investigate such claims. “Provide us with facts that pressure has been applied, and we will pursue them,” he said.

Danielyan countered that opposition figures lack the means to collect proof through surveillance or wiretapping. “It’s a small country. We don’t have the ability to bug phones or secretly record conversations,” he said, while acknowledging that similar practices existed under former governments.