Aram Vardevanyan, a parliamentary candidate from the opposition Strong Armenia party, has filed a criminal complaint demanding an investigation into what he described as threats made by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan against political opponents.
In his complaint, Vardevanyan cited several remarks made by Pashinyan during the campaign, including phrases such as “you are cowardly servants,” “I will force all of you to kneel,” and “I will shove each of your masks where they belong,” along with other similar expressions directed at critics of the government, according to RFL/RL.
According to Vardevanyan, the prime minister’s statements contained elements of several offenses envisaged by the Criminal Code. He listed provisions related to public calls for violence, psychological coercion, and public speech aimed at inciting or promoting hatred, discrimination, intolerance, or hostility.
In his appeal to the prosecutor general, Vardevanyan stressed that Pashinyan, using the influence deriving from his office, had publicly justified violence against individuals based on their national origin, political views and other characteristics.
Earlier, the Prosecutor General’s Office said it was not investigating the prime minister’s behavior, though it did not provide reasons for that decision.
