Strong Armenia’s Stepanavan mayoral candidate accused of bribing voters

Shortly after announcing the arrest of 14 people in connection with an investigation in Stepanavan, Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee said that Arsen Gevorgyan, the Strong Armenia party’s mayoral candidate in the upcoming local elections, is suspected of bribing voters ahead of the October 25 vote.

The committee said criminal proceedings had been initiated based on measures carried out by Armenia’s National Security Service.

“Factual data have been obtained indicating that the candidate heading the Strong Armenia party’s list in the October 25, 2026, proportional-representation elections to the City Council of the Stepanavan municipality gave bribes to dozens of voters in several settlements within the community, on the condition that they participate in the elections and vote for the aforementioned party. The payments were made with the assistance of candidates for the City Council and individuals acting on behalf of the party. The preliminary investigation also established that the same candidate, with the assistance of candidates for the City Council, prepared to bribe more than 30 additional voters in exchange for their votes for the party. The preparations involved setting aside the amounts intended for each voter, making notes, and compiling lists. Several people have been arrested in the criminal proceedings initiated by the Anti-Corruption Committee in connection with the case. Searches and other procedural actions have been carried out,” the committee said in a statement.

Strong Armenia MP Arega Hovsepyan said Gevorgyan was among those arrested.