Ruptly
"Strong Armenia leader Samvel Karapetyan accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of using state resources and political connections to remain in power during Armenia’s parliamentary election on Sunday. Speaking in Yerevan, Karapetyan claimed Pashinyan was prepared to use every means available to protect his position. "He has no other option. He’s trying to hold on to power by any means. But we’ll see. I believe the people of Armenia will make the right decision," Karapetyan said. Eighteen political forces are contesting the election, including Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s ruling Civil Contract party, the Strong Armenia alliance associated with businessman Samvel Karapetyan, and former president Robert Kocharyan’s Armenia Alliance. On 5 June, Aram Sargsyan, leader of the Republic Party, submitted a request to cancel the registration of Karapetyan’s movement, citing alleged violations during the election campaign. The Central Election Commission of Armenia rejected the request. However, the following day, the country’s Prosecutor General’s office opened a criminal investigation against six members of the bloc, accusing them of voter bribery and money laundering. Earlier, the republic’s former defence minister Arshak Karapetyan published diplomatic correspondence from 2008 alleging that the US State Department had been in regular contact with Pashinyan during his time as a journalist. The published document states that Pashinyan received financial assistance, noting that he displayed signs of 'financial impropriety'. In March 2008, the US Embassy suspended its co-operation with Pashinyan following his request for help in evading criminal prosecution after the unrest during the presidential elections in Armenia. He was accused of organising mass riots and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment. In 2011, the sentence was overturned under an amnesty, after which co-operation between the US State Department and Pashinyan resumed."
