Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee has searched the homes and offices of supporters of Samvel Karapetyan’s opposition Strong Armenia bloc in Stepanavan, in Lori province, the newspaper Haykakan Zhamanak reports. The bloc advocates closer ties with Russia.
Committee spokesperson Marina Ohanjanyan said 14 people had been detained. The committee said the searches and other procedural actions were being carried out as part of a criminal investigation.
Lawmaker Arega Hovsepyan said those detained included Arsen Gevorgyan, Strong Armenia’s candidate for mayor of Stepanavan. She said all those detained support the party. Local government elections in the town are scheduled for October 25.