Strong Armenia member slams prosecution bid against Narek Karapetyan as 'political vendetta'

Armenia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) is considering a motion from prosecutors seeking permission to prosecute Narek Karapetyan, a board member of the opposition Strong Armenia party. The move has prompted sharp criticism from party officials, who argue it undermines constitutional protections for newly elected lawmakers.

Constitutional law specialist and Strong Armenia board member Gohar Meloyan told reporters on Wednesday she had not yet spoken with colleagues present at the CEC session but described the development as “another deformation of law” in Armenia. “This is a legal bacchanalia,” she said, contending that Karapetyan’s parliamentary status should trigger immunity under Article 96 of the Constitution, which requires the National Assembly's approval before any prosecution of a sitting deputy.

Meloyan accused the authorities of targeting Karapetyan because of his post-election political activity. “This is a clear act of political retaliation aimed at unlawfully depriving Narek Karapetyan of his freedom,” she said.

The Strong Armenia alliance won 29 seats in the June 7 parliamentary elections.