Pashinyan Demands Criminal Action Against Kocharyan, Tsarukyan Ahead of June 7 Vote

Civil Contract's prime ministerial candidate and incumbent Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan used a major campaign rally in Yerevan on Friday to intensify attacks on his political opponents, calling for criminal accountability against several opposition leaders just days before Armenia's parliamentary elections.

Speaking to supporters gathered in Republic Square, Pashinyan accused opposition forces of seeking to undermine the country and urged voters to reject what he described as a coalition of political figures associated with Armenia's former governments.

“The three-headed party of war and their tails must not enter parliament,” Pashinyan said, referring to former President Robert Kocharyan of the Armenia Alliance, businessman Samvel Karapetyan, the main backer of the Strong Armenia Alliance, and Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan.

Pashinyan also reiterated his long-standing position on the unresolved March 1, 2008, post-election violence case, declaring that Kocharyan should be arrested and that those responsible for the deadly events should face lengthy prison sentences. The prime minister had previously stated during the campaign that the case had been fully solved and that Kocharyan should be held accountable.

The remarks came during one of the final major campaign rallies before Armenians head to the polls on June 7, in an election widely viewed as a test of the country's political direction following years of domestic upheaval, regional conflict and ongoing debates over governance, judicial reform and national security.

Addressing the fate of the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA), the country's largest electricity distribution company, Pashinyan said the utility is now state-owned and would remain exclusively under government control. The issue has become a major point of political contention following a dispute between authorities and Karapetyan, whose family controls the company.

According to earlier reporting by Radio Liberty, the Armenian government offered approximately 23.3 billion drams ($62.3 million) for ENA, while also seeking the return of dividends distributed to shareholders over the past decade. Former ENA Director General Davit Ghazinyan said Karapetyan's family would reject the proposal, arguing that the effective compensation would amount to only a fraction of the company's value.

Pashinyan also targeted Tsarukyan, citing ongoing asset forfeiture proceedings initiated by prosecutors.

“The Prosecutor General’s Office is seeking the confiscation of more than $300 million in illegally acquired assets from the leader of BHK,” Pashinyan told supporters. “All of that must be returned to the people as soon as possible.”

The prime minister further criticized Armenia's judicial system and argued that constitutional reform would be necessary after the election. He proposed a process under which judges would undergo multiple integrity and ethics reviews before being reappointed.

“To solve the problems in the judicial system, after the elections and through democratic processes, we must adopt a new Constitution,” Pashinyan said.

He also called on law enforcement agencies to take a tougher stance against election-related offenses, including vote-buying, and demanded swift action against those found violating electoral laws.

The rally showed the increasingly confrontational tone of Armenia's election campaign, as rival political forces compete for power during heightened polarization and scrutiny over the country's democratic institutions.

Armenia’s parliamentary elections are scheduled for June 7, with official campaigning ending on June 5. The vote is widely viewed as one of the country’s most consequential elections since the 2018 Velvet Revolution, taking place during deep political polarization, continued debates over Armenia’s security and foreign policy orientation, and ongoing peace negotiations with Azerbaijan following years of conflict.

Nineteen political parties and alliances initially registered to compete in the election. One party was later removed from the ballot after its registration was invalidated by the Central Electoral Commission, leaving 18 political forces contesting seats in parliament.

The election is being closely watched by domestic observers and international organizations during increasingly heated political rhetoric, allegations of pressure tactics by competing sides, and several incidents of campaign-related violence reported during the race.

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