Pashinyan warns of “crisis” in justice system over lack of vote-buying rulings

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has expressed outrage that none of the defendants in criminal cases related to vote-buying during the 2021 snap parliamentary elections have received prison sentences, saying that this reflects a “crisis” in the criminal justice system.

“We need to understand on what grounds these cases were dismissed and why the defendants were not sentenced to imprisonment. Otherwise, it means that our criminal justice system is greenlighting those who distribute electoral bribes,” he said at a press briefing.

According to the Prime Minister, he will give a political assessment of the situation, while the legal assessment should be made by lawyers.

Pashinyan also recently stated that it will be a priority for him to ensure that by the time of the next general elections in 2026, all individuals involved in vote-buying cases are held accountable and imprisoned.

Throughout the campaign for the June 7 parliamentary elections in Armenia, as well as after the vote, law enforcement agencies have made multiple arrests and launched numerous criminal investigations into alleged vote-buying involving representatives of the “Strong Armenia” and “Armenia” alliances and the “Prosperous Armenia” party. The law enforcement agencies have been regularly releasing audio recordings obtained through surveillance, allegedly capturing suspects discussing vote-buying schemes.