Category: News

Verelq: “Hatis” is not just a project. it has advice to unify Armenians

Ekmekjian Janet

The last day of the campaign has special advice. At the top of Hatis, we are waiting for the symbolic 50,000th volunteer of the nationwide initiative, Aramo, the Honored Artist of the Republic of Armenia.

This height has become a unique symbol of unity. People came here from the most distant settlements of Armenia, from the Diaspora and from different continents of the world. They were united by one idea: to participate in a cause that belongs to all Armenians. Here, each person feels that with his participation he leaves his own mark and becomes a part of the great history.

Certificates given to volunteers are not just certificates. They are memory, responsibility and pride. Years later, these people will tell their children and grandchildren that they were participants in this initiative of national significance.

“Hatis” is not just a project. It is a belief, a memory and an idea of ​​unity that unites Armenians. That is why it is important for every Armenian to feel a part of this great cause.


PAP Chairman Gagik Tsarukyan




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Asbarez: Landmark Richard G. Hovannisian Library to be Established in Yerevan

Ara Felekian
by Contributor

 

 June 4, 2026

 

in Armenia, Featured Main, Latest, News, Top Stories

Global Fundraising Campaign Officially Launches

YEREVAN — A global fundraising campaign has officially launched to support the creation of the Richard G. Hovannisian Library in the heart of Yerevan. Dedicated to honoring and extending the monumental legacy of the late Professor Hovannisian–a titan of modern Armenian History–the library will permanently house the unparalleled collection of more than 10,000 books and volumes he amassed over his lifetime. 

Born to Armenian Genocide survivors in California’s San Joaquin Valley, Hovannisian set out on a life’s journey to pioneer the field of Armenian Studies in the United States and across the world. He founded and held the AEF Chair in Modern Armenian History, later renamed in his honor, at UCLA. He wrote the four-volume masterpiece, “The Republic of Armenia.”

Hovannisian preserved the history of the Armenian Genocide through several more books and a comprehensive oral history collection, which now resides at USC’s Shoah Foundation. His series of conferences on the historic Armenian cities and provinces also became books, wherein the lost history, culture, and spirit of Western Armenia are forever preserved.

The Richard G. Hovannisian Library is envisaged as a world-class cultural and intellectual space. Work is already well underway on the ground in Yerevan, where specialists and catalogers are meticulously indexing the vast archival collection. By the end of this year, these volumes will be integrated into a beautifully designed facility featuring custom, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.

The space will serve as a dynamic center for the study and advancement of Armenian and regional studies, inspiring a new generation of scholars, thinkers, and leaders through a year-round calendar of panels, symposia, and educational programming. 

While the Hovannisian family, together with several allied Armenian institutions, has borne the lion’s share of the initial project and construction costs, a global campaign has been launched to bring this history-in-the-making across the finish line, funding the final outfitting of the space, ongoing archival work, and future programming. 

Hovannisian speaking

“We hope to build, in my grandfather’s name, a library that will not only perpetuate his legacy, but that will allow new generations of Armenians to discover the riches of our past and to be inspired and propelled toward our future,” said Garin Hovannisian, Founder of Creative Armenia, which is helping implement the project on the ground in Yerevan.

To make a tax-deductible contribution to the campaign, please visit the official donation portal at the Creative Armenia website.

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The Spiritual Significance of Holy Etchmiadzin in Our Time

Toneyan Mark
by Contributor

 

 June 5, 2026

 

in Latest, Op-Ed, Top Stories

The Mother Cathedral of Armenia to Holy Etchmiadzin Cathedral


BY ARCHBISHOP KHAJAG BARSAMIAN

Holy Etchmiadzin, the spiritual center of all Armenians, is not merely a historical or religious sanctuary in the life of our people. It is a living symbol of national identity, spiritual continuity, and pan-Armenian unity. In this sense, the feast of Etchmiadzin is not simply a remembrance of past glory, but a renewed call to rediscover the strength of our faith, our roots, and our collective national mission.

Throughout the centuries, Etchmiadzin has been the sacred center from which our people have received not only spiritual consolation, but also direction, resilience, and the will to recover in times of national trial. When statehood was disrupted, when the homeland was threatened, and when Armenians were scattered across the world, Etchmiadzin remained the steadfast axis connecting the Armenian people to their history, their Church, and the future of the nation.

Today, in an age marked by moral uncertainty, political instability, and the erosion of national identities, the message of Etchmiadzin is more vital than ever. It reminds us that no people can achieve lasting strength through economic or political means alone if they are deprived of spiritual foundations, moral orientation, and collective consciousness. Holy Etchmiadzin, therefore, is not merely a monument to our glorious past, but a guide for our present and a light for our future.

In our national life, the relationship between state and Church holds particular significance. They have distinct missions, yet they are not opposed to one another when both are directed toward the good of the people, the preservation of identity, and the defense of the homeland. The state is called to ensure national security, the rule of law, social order, and the conditions necessary for development. The Church, in turn, is called to cultivate spiritual health, moral responsibility, and the values of love, service, and faith.

When the state and the Church, each within its proper sphere, cooperate with mutual respect and national consciousness, the people become stronger, more organized, and more resilient. Such cooperation should not be seen as a fusion of power or administration, but as a shared service to the nation’s destiny. Where this awareness exists, social solidarity is strengthened, civic responsibility is deepened, and national goals acquire firmer foundations.

The unity of our people is an urgent priority today. Internal divisions, intolerance, excessive individualism, and attitudes that place the common good behind personal interest all weaken the nation. The message of Etchmiadzin calls us back to a truly national way of thinking. It teaches us that Armenian identity is not confined by geographical borders alone, but lives through spiritual, cultural, and national bonds. In this sense, Etchmiadzin is the home of all Armenians — in the homeland and throughout the Diaspora, in memory of the past and in hope for the future.

What we need today is not only an emotional attachment to our sacred national symbols, but also a renewed and practical commitment. The feast of Etchmiadzin is a call for every Armenian — public servant, clergyman, intellectual, teacher, parent, and young person — to rediscover his or her share of responsibility in the strengthening of the homeland. A nation grows stronger when its institutions are trustworthy, when its spiritual centers are alive, and when its citizens understand that personal success is inseparable from the common good.

The strengthening of the homeland cannot be limited only to the army, the economy, or diplomacy, vital though they are. A strong homeland is also built through faith, values, national education, cultural vitality, and the rooting of a spirit of service in future generations. This is why Etchmiadzin, as a spiritual homeland, also carries national and civic significance. It unites us around the vision that a free, secure, and dignified homeland can only be built when the people themselves are strong within.

The feast of Etchmiadzin, therefore, is an occasion not only for reverence and prayer, but also for self-examination and renewal. It invites us to reassess our national attitudes, strengthen healthy cooperation between state and Church, deepen our unity, and serve the homeland with wholehearted dedication. The more faithful we remain to the message of Etchmiadzin, the more capable we will be of confronting the challenges of our time and building a stronger, more united, and more value-centered national future.

May the light of Holy Etchmiadzin continue to guide our people toward unity, wisdom, faith, and the renewal of national life.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian is a Pontifical Legate in Western Europe and a representative of the Armenian Church to the Holy See.




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Let Ararat Mirzoyan take 5 kilos of onions to Europe and sell them for 100,000. your brains

Kanayan Tamar

June: 5, 2026

In the “Pressing” program Satik Seyranyan the guest is the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, the chairman of “Azatutyun” party Hrant Bagratyan is.

The main theses of the interview are below.

  • This economic war with Russia will end with the complete defeat of Armenia, because we do not have the weight and weight to be able to face Russia. Of course, I am against all kinds of sanctions, but Russia says to Pashinyan: Comrade, you have been to Russia 35 times, your Monday starts with America, Tuesday with Europe… by Saturday it is Russia’s turn… Who are you anyway?
  • Russia says: have you made me crazy, Armenia… I give you gas, I give you a subsidy of 400 dollars for every cubic meter.
  • I appeal to Russia, Nikol Pashinyan is doing you a disservice, not the Armenian people… Do not turn the Armenian people against you. 
  • The European says: dear Armenians, your country will either belong to the Russians or to the Turks, we are now fighting against the Russians and we welcome any anti-Russian move. And if you join Turkey or Azerbaijan, even better. This is the position of Europe. This man fell after Europe like an adventurer. 
  • They lie. Azerbaijan has no gas, Armenia cannot get gas from anywhere else. A new gas pipeline is needed to bring gas from Iran. 
  • I know Saakashvili. He is a liar, don’t believe his words. Azerbaijan gives gas to Georgia for 500 dollars, even if it gives gas to us, it will give it at the same price. It is now more profitable for Georgia to take Russian gas, which it does… 
  • The world is divided, and Armenia must decide which side of the mountain it is on. We need to understand who is interested in Armenia. Russia is interested because if Armenia does not exist, the Turks will enter Russia.
  • Between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Russia will always choose Armenia, because if Azerbaijan swallows Armenia, it will brazenly drive over Russia. Do not take Karabakh, the Russians will take it in 2016. they said: recognize the independence of Karabakh, which we did not do: 
  • We say that the CSTO did not come to our aid, but many who were there in those days saw that the Russian army was there, but did not come forward because they did not know what the border of Armenia was, because Pashinyan was talking about demarcation. That’s why the CSTO said: Pashinyan, tell me what is the border of Armenia… The Russians came to help the villages of Vardenis, because they knew for sure that those villages were Armenian. They didn’t do it in Jermuk, why… Ask the Chief of the General Staff, Nikol Pashinyan, the end, dear friend, did the Azerbaijanis go hungry, did they go or not?

Read also

  • The future of the “3 3” format. What does the real interest of Yerevan, Baku and Tbilisi depend on?
  • And isn’t the “discounting” of a part of the victims of the officially announced 44-day strike a mischief?
  • Elections in Armenia as a test of historical and political memory
  • In Azerbaijan, they raise questions against Ilham Aliyev: why did the Azerbaijani army stop in Vardenis, why didn’t we take everything? If Nikol Pashinyan is not elected, a normal national force will come to power, it will take back what it lost, what will we do?:
  • During the 44-day war, Nikol Pashinyan listened only to the West. They said to him, “Dear friend, you must lose Karabakh, hand it over, so that the Russians will be cut off from the South Caucasus.” A few days later, on June 7, the government will change, everything will be investigated…
  • Azerbaijan never says with what borders it recognizes the territorial integrity of Armenia, because it has approvals for Sevan and Syunik.
  • Georgians lost Ajaria, Turks got everything under Saakashvili. He opened Ajaria to the Turks. They came without going through border control, and then they started being rude. The Turks took Batumi into their hands. The Ajars, who were Muslim, then became Christian under Abashidze, then Muslim again, lost their land. Now Ivanishvili is trying to solve these issues. New laws have been adopted, according to which Turks are no longer given land, although it is probably too late.
  • Brothers, what does accepting 300,000 Azerbaijanis mean? First of all, how did they become 300,000, they were 150,000, when there were 500,000 Armenians in Azerbaijan? In the center of Baku was the Armenikend neighborhood with expensive houses, each of them is worth a million dollars today, so the Armenians will have to go and get their houses, which they don’t talk about.
  • On May 28, Trump warmly congratulated Nikol, an hour after that, Aliyev said: I have 3 conditions, will you do them, there will be peace? That day, Aliyev abused Nikol. If Armenians have any sense, they should say: don’t mind Trump’s paper, it’s nothing, like Woodrow Wilson didn’t exist. Trump’s word is worth zero, Aliyev’s word is not worth zero, but what did Europe say… Nothing:
  • The USA and Europe have no vital interests in our region. Russia, Turkey and Iran to our south have such interests:
  • There will be a change of power on June 7, Nikol Pashinyan, Ararat Mirzoyan, Alen Simonyan, Suren Papikyan, Sasun Mikayelyan, others will be invited to law enforcement agencies and asked questions. We are not dealing with a traitor in our country, but with an enemy.
  • We took about 700 million dollars worth of agricultural products to Russia annually, 200 million of which were taxes. We will not take it this year, the budget will be short. Now Ararat Mirzoyan and Aram Sargsyan say: we will take our goods to Europe. I offer them to take 5 kg of onions from Armenia to Europe and sell them, I will pay 100,000 dollars. Let’s put a representative with you to sell in any market in Europe, can you? Skiing in Russia is not competitive, how will you fare in the strict conditions of sanitary phytosanitary rules in Europe? Ararat Mirzoyan, keep your wits about you, don’t talk nonsense. How many bottles of wine or how many kg of peaches did Georgians sell in Europe… Let the EU ambassador go and give such advice to his relatives. We live in a madhouse, man…

  • Would a 3,000-year-old nation go after someone of questionable ethnicity? Man, if an Azerbaijani comes to a mono-ethnic country, what will he do? This man, Pashinyan, does not consider himself Armenian, he does not feel, he listens to Armenian music, he drinks gas. 
  • Aliyev is Pashinyan’s continuation. Now he has announced a search warrant for Samvel Karapetyan, this is what he says: catch him, give him to me. can’t do this either. Pashinyan’s hysteria is also due to this.
  • I don’t know what Pashinyan will have to do to pass. He won’t win. Nikol Pashinyan does not have a number 2. Gurgen Simonyan is Nikol-2, he has no chance to pass. Nikol Pashinyan is excluded from having a constitutional majority. Samvel Karapetyan is the leader of the opposition, Robert Kocharyan is gaining momentum. If 60% participate in the elections, the opposition wins with a score of 65-35. Go to the polls, dear people, and don’t vote for Nikol Pashinyan. Why is there no choice… Do you want manna from God? In the same way that he emptied Karabakh, Aliyev will empty Armenia in the same way with the hands of Pashinyan. Wake up! The Armenian voter has no place to complain, there are all kinds of candidates. You don’t like one of the 18? What a delicate palate you have, the opposition has such a candidate. Pashinyan has occupied Armenia, we must liberate Armenia from Osok. This is not an election, but a national liberation struggle:
  • During the 8 years of his rule, Nikol Pashinyan did not bring a single dram of looted money to the state budget, while he promised to bring 20 billion.
  • He says he bought a weapon, he is lying. He did not buy weapons worth 8 billion. That money should have entered the budget to buy weapons. He himself bought 1 billion 200 million worth of weapons, such weak weapons that it was a shame to show them at a military parade. Azerbaijan built a factory of drones and they have many times more than us. They came at us, what will you use to hit those ATS? Do we have a defense minister, what is it for? Or the Minister of Foreign Affairs, when asked about the prisoners, should say: Did you kneel? 
  • On June 7, he will definitely lose, the opposition has to stand up for its votes. 
  • CP distributes bribes at the expense of the left-wing state and the budget. Medical insurance will explode on June 8, but the incoming government must at all costs implement the program in high quality, not in a sloppy way. The opposition has good plans in this regard. There are good economic plans, people plan to create investment funds.

  • The US administration is sure that Nikol Pashinyan will not win the elections. That’s why they came and signed the paper that the American will exploit as many mines as we have.
  • Armenian people, I believe in your historical wisdom. You cannot choose the path of suicide by choosing Pashinyan. You have a choice of any taste and I believe that the government will change: 

Details in the video.




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And the “discounting” of a part of the victims of the officially announced 44-day strike is a scam

Anna Tamamian

June: 5, 2026

On June 4, during the big debate between the first numbers of the pre-election lists of political forces within the framework of the “Armenia chooses” project of the Public TV Company, Nikol Pashinyan stated. «3,755 servicemen died during the 44-day war.”

He noted that this is an official number, and for some reason, he forgot the civilians killed in the 44-day war, who were at the center of hostilities for various reasons.

Let’s remind that NA Speaker Alen Simonyan stated more than once.

“Some rogue oppositionists in this pre-election period are trying to increase the number of our martyred heroes in an exaggerated way, and they say: more than 5,000, 6,000-7,000, up to 10,000. I have to say that this number is not true. That number in criminal cases of the 44-day war There are 3,833, of which 78 are civilians, 3,755 are military personnel.

Read also

  • Elections in Armenia as a test of historical and political memory
  • Let Ararat Mirzoyan take 5 kilos of onions to Europe and sell them for 100,000. collect your heads, stop lying. Hrant Bagratyan
  • Businessmen, I warn you, be careful. Another trap is set. Ashot Harutyunyan

I wonder if forgetting the 78 civilians who died in the 44-day war is not rude, is there a difference between adding and “discounting” the number of victims?

Իսկ Նիկոլ Փաշինյանը նախընտրական բանավեճի ժամանակ, չհամաձայնելով «Միասնության թևեր» կուսակցության առաջնորդ Արման Թաթոյանի հետ, որ իր իշխանության օրոք մարտական զոհերի թիվը constitutes 4991, asserted.

“From 2018 until today (as a result of combat operations: – M.P.) he died

4 273 person, including civilians”.

As we have already mentioned, the number of victims in the 44-day war is currently according to official data 3833 է՝ excluding approx 190 to the missing, including more than 170 is a soldier.

By the way, recently we have touched on to various figures provided by government officials on the number of missing persons.

But now we are talking about the victims, about which there are different information presented, in which there are also differences compared to the number mentioned in the report of the 44-day investigative commission.

Now let’s try to understand whose presented number is correct: Arman Tatoyan or Nikol Pashinyan?

We have already mentioned that as of now the number of victims of the 44-day war is 3833 During the September 2022 battles, the Armenian side gave 224 victims, except this, in 2023 fip.ampresented statistics on combat casualties for the 5-year period 2018-2022, which did not include the number of war casualties in 2020, and without 593 was

And about the implementation process and results of the RA government program (2021-2026) in 2023 in the report it is noted. “During 2023 in the RA Armed Forces in combat conditions died 19 soldier”.

In addition to this, during the attack of Azerbaijan on September 19-20 in Artsakh in 2023, the victims of the Armenian side, whose number 207 is

In 2024, we also had victims from the enemy or in combat conditions, YKM 4 member

We repeat: these are only combat victims, but in 8 years we have had quite a few non-combat victims and we are dealing with human lives and destinies. Moreover, the number of victims of the 2023 Azerbaijani aggression in the PB fuel warehouse explosion is more than 200, and there are also missing people.

No matter how much Nikol Pashinyan discounts the number of victims during his 8-year prime ministership or the above-mentioned cases, those tragedies happened and cost human lives.

And if the authorities do not agree with these statistics, which contain official information, they can publish the list of victims of the 44-day war, the battles of September 2022 and the Azerbaijani aggression in Artsakh in 2023, why was this not done?

By the way, we also remember that in 2021, the figures of the authorities regarding the victims of the November battles were also contradictory. publish for example, when the Ministry of Defense reported 6 victims, Eduard Aghajanyan, chairman of the RA National Assembly’s Foreign Relations Committee had reported about having at least 15 victims on the Armenian side.

And this government reserves to itself the moral right to accuse someone of falsehood and question whether to respect or not, when they themselves have not always respected their own institutions.

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Arrmenpress: Lebanese president condemns Israeli attack killing 3 servicemen

Antranik Varosian
Near East16:55, 6 June 2026
Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Two Lebanese army officers and a soldier were killed in an Israeli strike on a military vehicle in south Lebanon ‌on Saturday, Reuters reported citing the Lebanese army, while the Israeli military said it was investigating the incident.

The Israeli military said it targeted the vehicle after identifying what it described as a threat to its forces and receiving indications that Hezbollah was preparing to fire on Israeli troops from the area.

Israel’s military said an initial inquiry indicated that two officers and a soldier in the Lebanese army were inside the vehicle when it was struck.

Lebanon’s army said the ⁠strike happened on the Khardali-Nabatieh road, some 70 km (44 miles) south of Beirut.

Iran-aligned Hezbollah condemned the strike, calling it a deliberate attack and part of Israel’s continued aggression against Lebanon.

The group said the attack was the result of what it called the Lebanese authorities’ disregard for the country’s sovereignty and a series of concessions, including what it described as acquiescence to Israeli demands in Washington, which it said had emboldened Israel.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli strike, calling it a flagrant violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and international law that threatened stability in south Lebanon despite ongoing efforts to halt hostilities.

The Lebanese army has largely stayed out of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel and has not taken part in the fighting during ‌the current ⁠conflict.

Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Six Strong Armenia bloc candidates face arrest warrants amid criminal probe

Emil Lazarian
Law11:45, 6 June 2026
Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Arrest warrants have been issued for six members of the Strong Armenia Bloc running for parliament, the Investigative Committee announced shortly after the Electoral Commission approved prosecutors’ motion seeking consent to indict them as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering and material inducement.

Under the law, authorities must obtain the Electoral Commission’s consent before charging or arresting registered parliamentary candidates.

The Investigative Committee said it is seeking to indict and place in custody Hayk Avagyan, Sasun Badoyan, Arthur Abrahamyan, Vahe Tavakalyan, Vahe Yeghiazaryan, and Ashot Sahakyan, who are running for parliament on the Strong Armenia Bloc’s ticket.

Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Self-styled “thief-in-law” charged under anti-mafia law

Vanyan Gary
Law13:19, 6 June 2026
Read the article in: Armenian:

Armenian law enforcement agencies have taken into custody a self-styled “thief-in-law” and invoked anti-mafia legislation to bring criminal charges.

Another individual, said to have acted under the alleged mobster’s orders, has also been arrested.

The Investigative Committee said in a press release that V.H., who goes by the alias “Thief Bje,” used his unlawful influence within the criminal hierarchy and instructed another individual, A.H., known as “Tetsik,” to resolve a personal dispute with a third party by carrying out punitive actions against an individual who had previously testified against other mobsters. V.H., who is described as a high-ranking criminal figure, allegedly ordered his subordinate to ostracize, humiliate, and punish the victim.

Both V.H. and A.H. have been arrested by National Security Service agents, and a motion to detain them without bail has been submitted to the court. V.H. is charged with maintaining a position of leadership within an organized criminal hierarchy, while the second suspect is charged with membership in an organized criminal group (criminal subculture syndicate).

Criminal subculture—a hierarchy-based code of conduct among criminal groups, originally believed to have emerged in Soviet prisons and associated with the self-styled “thieves-in-law”—has been outlawed in Armenia since the passage of anti-mafia legislation in 2020.

Read the article in: Armenian:

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Anti-Corruption Committee announces crackdown on electoral bribery schemes

Kalantarian Kevo
Law14:27, 6 June 2026
Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

The Anti-Corruption Committee has announced that it will carry out major investigative actions to neutralize possible vote-buying schemes.

The law enforcement agency said in a press release that on Saturday, as well as on election day, June 7, it would be engaged in “large-scale” operational measures to uncover and neutralize individuals involved in alleged vote-buying schemes.

“Acting on extensive operational and intelligence information received in recent months, as well as reports from citizens, the Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia will, today and tomorrow, conduct large-scale operational and investigative measures across the entire territory of the Republic, using all legally available tools and modern technical equipment, including unmanned aerial vehicles. These measures are aimed exclusively at identifying and dismantling criminal schemes involving vote-buying,” the Anti-Corruption Committee said.

It added that lists discovered during raids and investigations into vote-buying allegedly contained the personal data of “thousands” of citizens.

“Given the existence of hundreds of operational reports regarding individuals involved in giving and receiving electoral bribes, as well as lists containing the personal data of thousands of citizens discovered during searches, the Committee calls for vigilance and urges the public to acknowledge the inevitability of accountability and to decisively reject the vicious practice of vote-buying.”

Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Over 40 arrested in Armenia vote-buying investigation

Karagyozian Lena
Law14:54, 6 June 2026
Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

More than 40 people have been arrested on suspicion of vote-buying amid an ongoing investigation into a large-scale scheme allegedly involving the Strong Armenia bloc, authorities announced on Saturday.

The Investigative Committee said in a press release that its investigation into a money laundering case uncovered large-scale alleged vote-buying activities involving a parliamentary candidate from the Strong Armenia bloc, who allegedly acted with accomplices and distributed bribes ranging from 100,000 to 500,000 drams to more than 100 voters in Artashat in exchange for votes for his bloc in the June 7 parliamentary election. The scheme also involved additional bribes paid to other voters.

Law enforcement agencies are continuing efforts to identify and apprehend other accomplices in the scheme.

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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