Armenian opposition candidate holds Pashinyan responsible for election-period violence

Armenian opposition leader Edmon Marukyan on Thursday accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of responsibility for incidents of violence reported during the campaign ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary elections.

Speaking during a symbolic protest outside government headquarters, Marukyan, the prime ministerial candidate of the Bright Armenia Party, condemned what he described as assaults on citizens and political activists.

“People are being beaten, subjected to violence and forcibly dragged away,” Marukyan said. “There is one person responsible for what is happening today, and that is Nikol Pashinyan.”

Marukyan argued that Armenia’s 2015 Constitution places ultimate responsibility for the police under the prime minister, making Pashinyan accountable for the conduct of law enforcement authorities.

He said it did not matter which political party or movement the victims belonged to, adding that anyone responsible for carrying out acts of violence should already be in custody.

“We demand that Nikol Pashinyan, as the person chiefly responsible for these abuses, restore order and ensure the rule of law,” Marukyan said.