Armenian opposition party pulls out of local elections, citing members' arrests
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 16 August 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Armenian opposition party pulls out of local elections, citing members' arrests, 16 August 2016, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/57db9a0813.html [accessed 24 September 2016] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
August 16, 2016
By RFE/RL's Armenian Service
YEREVAN – Armenia's opposition Heritage party has pulled out of local elections because of the recent arrests of its three leading members.
The party said on August 15 that the arrests last month of Armen Martirosian, David Sanasarian, and Hovsep Khurshudian were baseless and the charges against them were "fabricated," adding that the party will not take part in local elections in September-October.
The party members along with an opposition activist, Andrias Ghukasian, were arrested on charges of organizing mass disturbances during public protests on July 29 and remanded to pretrial detention earlier this month.
They face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Opposition parties in Armenia have often avoided participation in local elections, claiming that candidates affiliated with or supported by the ruling Republican Party extensively use administrative resources and vote-buying schemes that preclude fair elections.
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