More than 20 searches tied to a criminal case under Armenia’s Investigative Committee have revealed incidents of coercion to participate in rallies and misappropriation of entrusted property, the Committee said.
According to the statement, the searches were part of a preliminary investigation led by the Department for Grave Crimes within the Yerevan City Investigation Division. The case centers on allegations of forcing individuals to join rallies, obstructing the exercise of voting rights, and embezzling large sums of entrusted property.
“During the course of more than 20 searches, investigators recovered key documents, data storage devices, large amounts of cash, numerous gold and silver jewelry items, many fuel coupons issued in the names of various commercial entities, and other items relevant to the case,” the Committee stated.
Based on the evidence collected through these large-scale investigative and procedural activities, public criminal prosecution has been initiated against:
- H.P., under Article 149, Part 2, Point 4 of the Criminal Code adopted on April 18, 2003 (obstructing the exercise of electoral rights by abusing official position), and under Article 236, Part 3 (coercing or preventing participation in rallies using official or service authority or influence, or offering material incentives to participate or abstain).
- A.A., under Article 46-236, Part 3 (aiding in coercion or material incentivization to participate or abstain from rallies using official or service authority or influence).
- N.A., under Article 256, Part 2, Points 2 and 3 (embezzling large amounts of entrusted property using official or service authority or influence).
All three individuals have been arrested.
The preliminary investigation is ongoing.
On October 15, 11 clergy members from the Aragatsotn Diocese, including Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, were detained. The arrests are part of the investigation into alleged coercion or obstruction of rally participation. The case was initiated following statements by Father Aram Asatryan on Public Television, who said the diocesan leader forced him and other priests to join opposition rallies in 2021. Daniel Ioannisyan, head of the Union of Informed Citizens NGO, had alerted the Prosecutor General’s Office to these claims.
