Armenia opposition MP accuses ruling party of election fraud; RPA refutes

PanARMENIAN.Net - Opposition lawmaker Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday, May 11 evening said in a Facebook post that one of current mayor Taron Margaryan’s offices is offering elections bribes in the amount of AMD 20,000 (apx. $41).

The Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) whose proportional list in the municipal elections is headed by Margaryan, refuted the claims as disinformation.

According to Pashinyan, a Haykakan Zhamanak reporter filmed the process, but those inside snatched the phone and deleted the footage.

Also, Pashinyan called on the citizens to visit RPA campaign offices, film such cases and post the videos online.

In response to the accusations, RPA called for refraining from “the obvious temptation of spreading disinformation.”

“We officially declare that the post is absolute disinformation and is completely untrue,” the RPA campaign office said.

Three parties participate in elections. RPA’s list is headed by Margaryan; Pashinyan, who was recently re-elected to the Armenian National Assembly, tops the list of YELQ bloc; while 5th Convocation National Assembly lawmaker Zaruhi Postanjyan, who recently announced the Yerkir Tsirani (Land of Apricot) party, will head its list. Municipal elections are slated for Sunday.