Armenian opposition candidate alleges voter intimidation ahead of June elections

An Armenian opposition candidate alleged on Friday that some voters are being pressured to photograph their ballots and remove ballot papers from polling stations as proof they did not support the Strong Armenia alliance ahead of the country’s June 7 parliamentary elections.

Gohar Meloyan, a parliamentary candidate for the Strong Armenia alliance and a constitutional law specialist, said her campaign had received reports of voter intimidation and coercion during the election process.

“Citizens are being forced to photograph or videotape the ballot that is placed inside the envelope. This is a prohibited act,” Meloyan told a news conference.

She urged voters not to comply with such demands and warned that removing ballots from polling stations could carry legal consequences under Armenian law.

Meloyan said her alliance had also received complaints that some voters were being instructed to take the Strong Armenia ballot out of polling stations as evidence they had not voted for the bloc.

“This is a violation of the law,” she said. “Do not allow coercive measures to be used against you.”

Meloyan advised voters who fear retaliation to avoid surrendering their vote choice to outside pressure and emphasized that ballot secrecy is protected by law.