ArmInfo.Election passions in Armenia are running high. After the rallies of the Oskanian-Raffi-Ohanyan bloc in Jrarat community of Armavir province, Samvel Galstyan, the head of the rural administration and member of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), started intimidating the Oskanian-Raffi-Ohanyan bloc supporters. Moreover, one of Galstyan's supporters pointed a gun at the Oskanian-Raffi-Ohanyan teammates, but the latter was able to take the gun away. The Oskanian-Raffi-Ohanyan press office reports that the police detained the bloc supporters instead of holding the gun owner accountable.
For his part, Police Spokesman Ashot Aharonyan said that some people have been detained after the incident and that relevant measures are being taken. He also urges the media and politicians to abstain from disseminating unchecked information. Aharonyan refused to speak of the incident details.
In addition, the posters of Tigran Urikhanyan, a candidate from the Tsarukyan bloc, have been torn off in Yerevan. The Central Electoral Commission demands abstaining from such actions and urges the witnesses to submit information to the police. Earlier the posters of Edmon Marukyan, a candidate from the Yelq bloc, were torn off in Vanadzor. Marukyan submitted the relevant video footage to the law enforcers. The police have already reported that the law enforcers have caught two minors, who were tearing off the candidates' posters.
The specified blocs blame the RPA for violations. Meanwhile, the Deputy Head of the RPA Armen Ashotyan and RPA Spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov have repeatedly stressed the need to hold free and fair elections. Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan has urged his supporters not to do a disservice. However, the RPA members themselves have already managed to scuffle, as well as to exert administrative pressure on the employees of state structures.