Pashinyan: 70% of opposition votes were bought; this problem must be  resolved

ArmInfo.  During the parliamentary elections held on June 7, Armenia's ruling Civil  Contract party failed to answer voters' questions about why Robert  Kocharyan is not yet in prison, why Gagik Tsarukyan's loot has not  yet been returned to the state, and how the Kaluga oligarch was able  to steal electricity from schools and kindergartens for eight years.   This was stated by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on June 17 during  the government's Q&A session in the National Assembly, in response to  a question from ruling party MP Hripsime Grigoryan. 

Furthermore, as the prime minister noted, the mafia led by these  individuals had external patrons. In response to their actions, the  country's authorities had acted with great caution and restraint.  Meanwhile, as Pashinyan emphasized, the question remains as to why  Robert Kocharyan's son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and other individuals  from his inner circle continue to serve as judges. " "We truly faced  challenges because the entire judicial and legal system they created  was aimed at protecting the interests of the oligarchic system. Now,  we must take the path of dismantling this system; there is no other  option. The election results show that the situation was not simple.  In this case, it is a matter of either the revolution winning or the  counter-revolution," the Prime Minister said. He highlighted the  importance of the institutional mechanisms that allowed the  authorities to make 10% of all election-related bribes "visible." 

Pashinyan noted that there was a large group of citizens who refused  bribes, and they are the foundation of the state. The prime minister  expressed confidence that 70% of all opposition votes were obtained  through bribery, and this problem must be resolved. He stated that  the government must react to these "outrages" with a "revolutionary"  approach.

"We will proceed along this path; if anyone disagrees, let them take  to the streets and stop us. We are accountable to the people, and we  will be forced to do whatever they say. Until then, we will continue  the path of destroying the oligarchic system—its representatives will  be trampled," Pashinyan noted. He added that once the final election  results are processed, everyone who gave or received bribes must end  up in prison. However, they should not be pitied. "Suspended  sentences have already been handed down in dozens of cases. Even the  main bribe-giver was acquitted, but who would believe today that he  was acquitted for free?" the head of government emphasized. He noted  that 720,000 voters voted in favor of the authorities' new agenda.