"Strong Armenia": The participation of only one candidate in local self-government elections would testify to the undermining of democracy in Armenia

Arminfo. The participation of only one candidate in local self-government (LSG) elections in certain communities of Armenia indicates the undermining of democracy in the country. Secretary of the parliamentary faction “Strong Armenia” Tigran Abrahamyan said this on the 17th in a conversation with journalists, responding to a question about why only one candidate—and that candidate from the “Civil Contract” party—is participating in the electoral process in the Tumanyan community of Lori Province.

In this regard, Abrahamyan stated that their political force would later issue a statement and announce in which communities it intends to participate in the LSG elections. At the same time, he noted that the situation in which only one candidate can be nominated in some communities indicates that the foundations of democracy in Armenia have been undermined. He linked this situation to the political persecution of a number of opposition community leaders. “For example, there is the case of Mamikon Aslanyan (he was taken into custody after being elected head of the Vanadzor community—Ed.), the case of Gyumri (Gyumri Mayor Vardan Gukasyan is under house arrest—Ed.), and in Syunik (the detention of Meghri community head Khachatur Andreasyan—Ed.). Overall, the picture is as follows: we will later issue a statement and say in which communities we intend to participate in the elections,” Abrahamyan said.

According to the opposition figure, if ultimately only a candidate from the “Civil Contract” party participates in the Tumanyan community of Lori Province, this will be the clearest indication of the state of democracy in Armenia. “Today, through pressure, the ruling party has brought matters to the point where only its candidates are participating in LSG elections in some communities. If I am not mistaken, this happened only during the Soviet period. At that time, too, there were cases when representatives of only one party participated in elections. But I repeat that the number of supporters of our “Strong Armenia” party has increased significantly. As for the issue of candidates, we have no problems with this. It is the authorities who have problems with our candidates. They fear them so much politically that they are forced to resort to various methods of pressure, including arrests. The same thing happened before the regular parliamentary elections in June, when several representatives of our political force were detained. Among them were David Kazinyan, Aleksan Aleksanyan, and others. And let me remind you that today marks the 450th day that “Strong Armenia” party leader Samvel Karapetyan has been deprived of his freedom,” the faction secretary concluded.

It should be recalled that in autumn 2026, elections to local self-government (LSG) bodies will be held in 46 communities of Armenia.