Strong Armenia party pledges amnesty amid crackdown on members

Narek Karapetyan, a board member of the opposition Strong Armenia party, has declared that the  party will pursue a general amnesty if it comes to power following the June 7 parliamentary elections. His statement comes against the backdrop of mounting criminal proceedings against party members and supporters.

On Monday, the Anti-Corruption Court ordered the two-month detention of Artur Avanesyan, known as Kandaz, head of the party’s security team and an Artsakh war veteran. The decision has intensified concerns among opposition figures about politically motivated prosecutions.

Justice Minister Srbuhi Galyan recently dismissed speculation about a forthcoming amnesty. She emphasized that the government has “no decision to implement an amnesty”, instead highlighting reforms to conditional early release mechanisms designed to ensure smoother reintegration of former offenders into society.