Armenian opposition leader Narek Karapetyan stripped of immunity and placed un

Armenia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has stripped Strong Armenia Alliance leader Narek Karapetyan of his immunity, paving the way for prosecutors to place him under investigation. Reports have suggested that the investigation involves another member of his alliance, who is charged with money laundering and vote buying.

Narek Karapetyan led most campaigning efforts for the Strong Armenia Alliance during the elections on behalf of his uncle, Samvel Karapetyan, formal leader of the alliance. Samvel Karapetyan was barred from running for parliament on account of his dual citizenship. He is currently under house arrest and is facing criminal charges of calling for the usurpation of power and money-laundering.

Lusine Martirosyan, a representative of the Prosecutor General’s Office, told the state-run media outlet Armenpress that her agency submitted two motions to the CEC — one seeking consent to initiate criminal proceedings against Narek Karapetyan, and another seeking consent to deprive him of his liberty.

The CEC approved the first motion, and rejected the second.

In their response, Strong Armenia spokesperson Marianna Ghahramayan claimed that the CEC ‘has committed yet another illegal act’.

‘They are trying to isolate Narek Karapetyan. Strong Armenia is not one to break. You keep being afraid’, Ghahramayan said.

CEC Chair Vahagn Hovakimyan announced the petition in a press briefing on Tuesday.

It came the same day the CEC signed protocols allocating seats to MPs from the three parties or blocs that made it into parliament — Strong Armenia included. The first parliamentary session is scheduled to take place on 2 August.

Also that same day, Narek Karapetyan’s lawyer, Aram Vardevanyan, suggested that the recent moves were linked to a separate case involving Alik Aleksanyan, a senior member of the Strong Armenia Alliance who was charged with money laundering and vote buying in early June.

According to Armenpress, Hovakimyan said Narek Karapetyan is currently registered as an MP-elect but will formally assume his mandate only once the new parliament holds its first session. Until then, requests to initiate criminal proceedings against him require the CEC’s consent.

The Prosecutor General’s Office declined to disclose details of the case, citing the interests of the ongoing investigation.

The move marks the latest legal action taken against Armenian opposition figures following the 7 June elections.

Days after the vote, Narek Karapetyan was barred from leaving Armenia, though the authorities neither confirmed nor explained the alleged travel ban. He was also placed under investigation in May over allegations that he failed to disclose his foreign citizenship while registering as a parliamentary candidate.

Other opposition figures have also reported being prevented from leaving Armenia after the vote, including former President Robert Kocharyan and Prosperous Armenia leader Gagik Tsarukyan.

Tsarukyan’s case has since escalated further. The businessperson, whose party narrowly failed to cross the electoral threshold after a controversial CEC decision, was arrested earlier in July on money laundering charges and remains under investigation for alleged financial crimes.

Authorities have also moved against Tsarukyan’s businesses, with Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Court having ordered that his Ararat Cement plant be placed under state management, and prosecutors seeking the confiscation of additional properties, assets, and cash allegedly belonging to him.