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Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has said that anyone involved in electoral bribery must face strict accountability, stressing that the issue is a matter of both national security and democracy.
“If it is necessary to implement legislative and institutional changes for this, then those changes should be made now, without delay. However, I do not think such changes are necessary,” Pashinyan told members of his Cabinet during a live-streamed meeting.
“There is tolerance toward electoral bribery. I would not be surprised if it turns out that none of those caught taking or giving electoral bribes in previous elections are in prison today. Those who were caught during local elections continued their activities in parliamentary elections, and they will continue in the upcoming local elections as well.
I clearly demand that those who are caught taking or giving electoral bribes, regardless of their social status or position, be in prison at least until the official conclusion of the next national elections,” the Prime Minister added.