Armenian law enforcement focused on suppressing opposition, member says

Armenian law enforcement officers detained members and supporters of the opposition Strong Armenia party for alleged vote buying on Thursday, drawing sharp criticism from party officials who denounced the move as politically motivated.

Speaking outside the Anti-Corruption Committee, Strong Armenia member Gohar Meloyan said the detentions were part of a broader campaign to suppress dissent. “This is political interference, not a legal process. We already see a clear pattern that our political force is under attack,” she told reporters.

Meloyan argued that the crackdown undermines electoral rights, highlighting that party leader Samvel Karapetyan has been held in detention for ten months, which she described as unlawful. “We have broad public support, as was evident just days ago. These interventions and disruptions are a direct consequence of that support,” she said.

Meloyan further alleged that the government is actively conducting its own campaign using administrative resources while obstructing opposition activities.