Armenian opposition party member, supporters detained

Armenia’s opposition Strong Armenia party has sounded the alarm over a sweeping crackdown by law enforcement authorities. According to party member Gohar Meloyan, security forces carried out searches early on Thursday morning, detaining several supporters as well as a female candidate on the party’s electoral list.

Meloyan characterised the developments as “deeply disturbing”,  stressing that women appear to have been deliberately targeted. “This constitutes a violation of electoral rights,” she said, adding that the Anti-Corruption Committee is currently preventing lawyers from meeting those taken into custody.

Meloyan urged international attention, warning that the detentions could undermine democratic participation ahead of the elections.