Armenian opposition figures under house arrest to be allowed to vote in June elections

Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission (CEC) announced on Thursday that citizens under house arrest, including opposition figures and candidates, will be allowed to vote in the June parliamentary elections.

CEC Chairman Vahagn Hovakimyan said the Justice Ministry’s Probation Service has guaranteed that eligible voters confined to their homes will be escorted to polling stations. “We are told not to worry — those under house arrest who wish to vote will be accompanied to exercise their rights,” he told a press briefing.

Among those currently under house arrest are Samvel Karapetyan, the prime ministerial candidate of the Strong Armenia party; Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan and opposition MP Artur Sargsyan of the Hayastan bloc. Several other political and civic activists also remain under house arrest.