Edmon Marukyan, the prime ministerial candidate of the Bright Armenia Party, has said it cannot be ruled out that one of the political forces that participated in the June 4 televised debate could be removed from the election race.

Speaking during a campaign event near the National Assembly, Marukyan commented on the final pre-election debate broadcast by Armenia’s Public Television, during which the issue of certain political forces’ participation in the elections was discussed.

“Since this morning, large-scale detentions have begun, and yesterday Pashinyan was telling several political forces that we have repeatedly discussed how certain forces could be removed from the election race. But he says that he told them he would not do it himself and that they should apply to the Central Electoral Commission. He says that if he does it, they will claim he was afraid of them, while they are asking how they are supposed to apply,” Marukyan said, according to http://Factor.am .

During the debate, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan suggested that other political forces should deal with the issue themselves, arguing that any direct intervention on his part could lead to accusations of political persecution.

Responding to the prime minister’s remarks, Aram Sargsyan stated that he had approached the chairman of the Central Electoral Commission but was told that the commission does not possess such powers.

At the same time, Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission reported that, as of that moment, it had not received any written requests seeking to deprive political forces of the right to participate in the elections.

The election campaign, which began on May 8, continued through June 5. June 6 is a day of silence, while voting will take place on June 7. On May 25, the Alliance Progressive Centrist Party submitted a withdrawal request, after which the Central Electoral Commission invalidated the registration of the party’s electoral list. As a result, there will be no ballot paper numbered 13 in the upcoming elections.