More than 10 supporters of the Strong Armenia party from Yerevan and various regions of Armenia were detained early in the morning, lawyer Yura Ivanyan said, according to Sputnik Armenia.
“People were taken early in the morning and brought to Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee. Investigative and procedural actions have been carried out since the morning. Lawyers are not being provided with precise information, and actions are being conducted without attorneys and defense representatives,” he said.
The lawyer said he suspects that during this period investigators are trying to persuade detainees to отказаться from legal representation. According to him, this would make it easier to “fabricate a case.”
Yura Ivanyan also stated that the total number of detainees is still unknown.
“There are more than 13. We learn about these people from their relatives when they contact us. They are from Yerevan and different regions, mostly Artsakh natives and residents of Tashir. The accusations are the same — violation of the ban on charity,” the lawyer added.
On May 15, it became known that offices of the Strong Armenia party in Lori province had been searched and that there were detainees. Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee also reported detentions in Armavir and Shirak provinces.
In addition, three individuals from the party’s Yerevan office are under arrest, including Arthur Avanesyan (Kandaz). According to the Anti-Corruption Committee, there are audio recordings involving individuals acting on behalf of the party who allegedly contacted Armenian citizens abroad.
