According to Yerkir paper, the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) now collects people’s passports to ensure their votes in the town of Ashtarak, center of Armenia’s Aragatsotn province.

One of the local residents told the paper that RPA used to offer AMD 5000 for one passport, while now the stakes are up again, reaching first AMD 10000 and now even AMD 15000.

Ashtarak resident told Yerkir that even the lavish AMD 15000 offer cannot provide passport collection for the party. The locals demand that the money is given in cash now, and not on the election day.

Besides, most of them decided to give their passports for the bribe, but vote for whoever they want at the elections, the source said.

“People have decided to take the money RPA offers, but not vote to favor this party. This is what I’m going to do as well,” resident of Ashtarak told the paper.

RPA has nominated Mnatsakan Mnatsakanyan, mayor of Armenian town of Talin to run in the constituency 15, and he is much unlikely to win in the coming parliamentary elections.