House arrest has been imposed on six opposition members detained in Vagharshapat. Courts partially granted motions by the Investigative Committee seeking their detention but instead chose house arrest, bail and a travel ban as preventive measures, the Investigative Committee told RFE/RL.
A seventh defendant remains at liberty after the court rejected the motion to detain him.
Investigators have charged the seven opposition figures with directing voters in favor of the “Victory” alliance during last November’s Vagharshapat city council elections and obstructing the free exercise of electoral rights.
The accused were candidates and supporters of the alliance in the city council race. The “Victory” alliance has denied the charges, arguing that the case carries political overtones and that the audio recordings released by the Investigative Committee raise doubts.
In the wiretaps published by investigators, individuals are heard urging people not to vote for the Civil Contract party, discussing transporting voters to polling stations and advising whom to support and whom not to back.
According to Sevak Khachatryan, head of the alliance’s city council faction, even if his teammates discussed developments related to voting day, it does not constitute a crime.
