Armenian Opposition Party to Boycott Elections

YEREVAN - Armenia's opposition Heritage party has formally withdrawn from the country’s upcoming local elections, saying the recent arrest of its three leaders delegitimizes the polls.

Party leaders Armen Martirosyan, David Sanasaryan, Hovsep Khurshudyan and opposition activist Andrias Ghukasyan, were arrested Monday on charges of organizing mass disturbances and unsanctioned public protests on July 29.

Following their arrest, all four faced up to 10 years in prison. Martirosyan, however, was unexpectedly granted bail Wednesday after posting a USD 2,100 bond for his release.

The remaining three are still being held in pre-trial detention in the Armenian capital, Yerevan.

In a statement released shortly after the group’s arrest, the Heritage party condemned the authorities decision to detain the party’s leadership, calling the charges “baseless and ridiculous”.

Most of Armenia’s opposition parties sit out the country’s local elections as a way to protest authoritarian President Serzh Sargsyan’s pro-Russian Republican Party, whom they accuse of dominating and manipulating elections through vote-buying and intimidation.

By Nicholas Waller