Expert: Law has become a tool of political influence in Armenia

Law in Armenia has become less a mechanism of equality and more a tool of political influence, a legal expert warned during an anti-corruption workshop on Friday, just weeks before the country’s June 7 parliamentary elections.

Abrasim Atoyan, an expert with the AntiCor Anti-Corruption Platform, said election corruption often extends beyond voting day itself, shaping the broader political environment through state control and selective enforcement.

Atoyan pointed to several practices that undermine fairness in the electoral process, including use of state resources for political campaigns, involvement of public employees in partisan activities, politicization of social programs, unequal media control, selective activity of security forces, pressure on opposition and the creation of a climate of fear.

He added that controversial cases linked to those in power often remain unresolved for long periods, while opposition members face swift and harsh responses from law enforcement.

“The law is no longer a mechanism of equality. It has become a tool of political influence,” Atoyan said.