Armenia Charges Former Officials, Raids Opposition-Leaning Media Days Before Key Parliamentary Vote
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Armenian authorities on Friday announced criminal charges against several prominent figures linked to the country's pre-2018 political establishment and conducted searches at the offices of an opposition-leaning news outlet, moves that have intensified scrutiny of the political climate just two days before a closely watched parliamentary election.
Among those charged is former Yerevan mayor and transport minister Gagik Beglaryan, who faces accusations of money laundering and abuse of authority. Similar charges were filed against former education minister Armen Ashotyan and former finance minister Gagik Khachatryan, a wealthy businessman who previously served in several senior government positions.
Ashotyan was detained earlier Friday. It remained unclear at the time of publication whether Khachatryan was in Armenia or subject to possible arrest.
According to investigators, Ashotyan and Khachatryan are accused of participating in a scheme involving the alleged fraudulent acquisition of property valued at more than $500,000 belonging to Bryusov State University in Yerevan. Authorities have also issued an arrest warrant for former defense minister Vigen Sargsyan, who served on the university's governing board during the period under investigation.
In a separate case, former State Property Management Committee chairman Arman Sahakyan was arrested on allegations of electoral bribery. Authorities have not publicly identified the political force allegedly connected to the case.
All of the officials targeted on Friday were senior members of the Republican Party of Armenia, which dominated the country's political landscape before the 2018 Velvet Revolution but is not participating in Sunday's parliamentary elections.
The developments come amid mounting political tensions ahead of the June 7 vote, which is widely regarded as one of Armenia's most consequential elections since the 2018 revolution that brought Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to power.
The election is taking place against the backdrop of deep political polarization, ongoing debates over Armenia's security and foreign policy direction, and continuing negotiations with Azerbaijan following years of conflict in the South Caucasus.
Nineteen political forces initially registered to compete in the election. One party was later removed from the ballot after its registration was invalidated by Armenia's Central Electoral Commission, leaving 18 parties and alliances contesting seats in parliament.
The campaign officially concluded on Friday, ushering in a legally mandated pre-election silence period before voters head to the polls on Sunday. Domestic observers and international organizations have been closely monitoring the race amid increasingly heated rhetoric, allegations of political pressure, and several reported incidents of campaign-related violence.
The crackdown also extended into the media sector.
On Friday, investigators searched the offices of Armat Media, a news agency known for its coverage of opposition politics and election-related issues.
According to Editor-in-Chief Aghavni Sukiasyan, individuals identifying themselves as representatives of Armenia's National Security Service and Investigative Committee entered the newsroom with a court order authorizing a search of the premises. Sukiasyan said authorities confiscated at least 11 mobile phones belonging to staff members, as well as computers, storage devices, and other newsroom equipment, effectively disrupting the outlet's operations.
Investigators reportedly told staff they were searching for materials related to alleged efforts to encourage participation in public gatherings, provide financial incentives to demonstrators, and documentation concerning employee compensation and protest-related activities. Armenia's Investigative Committee later confirmed that searches were underway at the media organization.
Sukiasyan alleged that investigators proceeded with portions of the search before lawyers arrived and requested access passwords for employees' mobile phones. She also expressed concern that authorities may have accessed or copied information stored on newsroom computers during the operation.
Armat Media editor Nelli Avetisyan said authorities seized computers used by the outlet's video editing team and removed parts of the newsroom's archive. According to Avetisyan, some of the confiscated materials included investigative reporting and unpublished content concerning claims about the potential resettlement of 300,000 Azerbaijanis in Armenia, a politically sensitive issue that has featured prominently in the election campaign. Authorities have not publicly commented on those claims.
Journalists at the scene reported being prevented from documenting the search inside the newsroom, with investigators citing the ongoing nature of the operation.
The simultaneous targeting of former senior officials and an opposition-focused media outlet has drawn increased attention to Armenia's political environment as voters prepare to cast ballots in a parliamentary election that could shape the country's domestic and geopolitical trajectory for years to come.
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