A criminal case has been launched over incidents that occurred during the May 16 campaign events of the Civil Contract party in Armenia’s Lori region, with 10 people detained, the Investigative Committee said.
The proceedings were initiated under Article 211, Part 2, Point 5 of the Criminal Code — “otherwise obstructing campaigning by a group of persons.”
“According to a report received by the Lori Regional Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee from the Interior Ministry police, a group of supporters of the ‘Strong Armenia’ alliance, having learned about the previously announced location of the ‘Civil Contract’ party’s election campaign, organized actions aimed at disrupting and obstructing the normal course of the party’s campaigning.
In particular, on May 16, a group of supporters of the Strong Armenia alliance obstructed the normal conduct of the Civil Contract party’s election campaign near the entrance to the Norashen settlement by blocking the roadway with vehicles.
In addition, on the same day, a group of supporters of the Strong Armenia alliance played loud music on the roadway at the square located at the beginning of Andranik Street in the Metsavan settlement and used violence against participants of the Civil Contract party, thereby disrupting the normal course of the campaign,” the Investigative Committee statement said.
Metsavan and Norashen are settlements within the enlarged Tashir community, where Defense Minister Suren Papikyan, who was born in Lori, conducted campaign events.
One of the videos showed a group of people greeting the Civil Contract motorcade with chants of “Samvel for prime minister” and songs. At the scene, Papikyan called on police officers to restore order among opposition supporters and promised to “teach a political lesson to those giving them instructions,” according to RFE/RL
Samvel Karapetyan, the leader of the Strong Armenia alliance, is from Tashir.
The election campaign, which began on May 8, will continue until June 5. June 6 will be observed as a day of silence, while elections will be held on June 7.
