Vardan Ghukasyan`s DLD party to participate in 2026 elections 

ArmInfo. Vardan Ghukasyan's Democracy, Law, Discipline (DLD) Party will participate in the parliamentary elections in Armenia on June 7, 2026, as part of a bloc.  This was announced in a statement by DOK Party Chairman Vardan Ghukasyan, posted on his Facebook page.

Ghukasyan stated that while in administrative detention in the United  States, he has delegated the authority to represent the party's  interests without any restrictions and on all matters to his lawyer,  Levon Baghdasaryan, who will serve as the head of the campaign  headquarters. "Dozens of letters from around the world with  complaints, proposals, plans, and promises testify to the fact that  our ideological movement continues to grow and has become a powerful  nationwide movement. Today, the DOK party, which I lead, by the most  conservative estimates, enjoys more public trust and votes than all  other political forces combined," the party chairman emphasized.

In light of this, Ghukasyan called on all healthy political forces to  unite in the name of the state and the people. "By December 1, 2025,  I am granting these forces a diplomatic passport so they can orient  themselves and join our pan-Armenian movement. After December 1, I  will present to the public a list of 131 joint DOK candidates running  in the elections, the composition of the government, and the  presidential candidate of Armenia," Ghukasyan concluded.

As a reminder, in early February, media outlets reported that  controversial video blogger Vardan Ghukasyan had been detained by US  police at the request of Armenian law enforcement. The Armenian  Ministry of Internal Affairs declined to comment on these reports.  However, the Director of Communications for the Northwest Region of  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) later reported that  Vardan Ghukasyan had been detained by U.S. Customs and Immigration  Services (CIS) and was in custody in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was noted  that Ghukasyan faces deportation for violating U.S.  residency  regulations. In March, the DLD party announced Vardan Ghukasyan's  release from prison. In October, the U.S. Immigration Court ruled  against extraditing Vardan Ghukasyan to Armenia. However, the court  also found that Vardan Ghukasyan had committed immigration violations  and therefore must leave the United States.