Pashinyan accuses opposition of vote-buying

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday accused opposition forces of relying on vote buying to secure support in the June 7 parliamentary elections and launched a scathing attack on businessman and opposition leader Gagik Tsarukyan.

Speaking at a press briefing, Pashinyan dismissed reports that he had previously sought a political arrangement with Tsarukyan, the leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party.

"If anyone had offered Gagik Tsarukyan a deal, he would have accepted it immediately," Pashinyan said, arguing that no such offer had ever been made. He claimed Tsarukyan had spent years searching for political agreements and alliances, only to be "used" by others without realizing it.

Pashinyan also asserted that Tsarukyan would readily accept any political overture from him.

The prime minister then turned his criticism toward the opposition blocs that won seats in the parliament, including the Hayastan (Armenia) bloc and Strong Armenia alliance. He alleged that their electoral support was built entirely on vote buying, while insisting that his ruling Civil Contract party received only genuine public backing.

"One thing is certain: Civil Contract received 100% organic votes," Pashinyan said. "The other forces received 100% of their votes through vote buying."

Pashinyan further alleged that substantial assets had been transferred to family members of major opposition leaders before the election out of concern that even their relatives might not support them at the ballot box.

"Without money, nobody voted for them — absolutely nobody," he said.

Pashinyan acknowledged that election violations had occurred but argued that the opposition parties represented in the parliament should not have crossed the electoral threshold. He said that if opposition lawmakers declined to take up their mandates, Armenia would have a "fully legitimate parliament."

"Otherwise, we will be forced to watch people whose politics revolve around money occupying parliamentary podiums," he said.

When a journalist suggested that his comments were insulting to a significant number of opposition voters, Pashinyan responded: "They are free to respond."