ANC-Realizing impending defeat in upcoming Elections, authorities  attempt to pre-determine outcome through force and violence

ArmInfo. Recent incidents of physical violence and assaults against opposition candidates and activists in Masis and Artik prove that the current authorities are once again violating the law and human rights, crossing all  boundaries. This was stated in a declaration issued by the Armenian  National Congress (ANC) party.

The statement notes that these attacks, which occurred just five days  before the parliamentary elections, are not accidental. They were  initiated by RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan himself on May 18,  with a direct order to use violence against Artur Osipyan, a citizen  forcibly displaced from Artsakh. This is a coordinated policy  directed by the ruling political force and Nikol Pashinyan himself,  aimed at creating an atmosphere of fear, intimidation, and pressure  in the country. Lacking public support and aware of inevitable defeat  in the upcoming elections, the authorities are attempting to silence  their opponents and predetermine the outcome through force and  violence. "It is also clear that when an election campaign is  conducted under the threat of physical repression, our citizens'  right to freedom of expression is violated," the statement reads.

The ANC strongly condemns these political atrocities and demands that  law enforcement immediately drop the criminal prosecution and release  Artur Osipyan. Refraining from political bias, it calls on all  perpetrators and organizers to be identified and held accountable in  accordance with the law. International observation missions and human  rights organizations are called on to conduct a proper assessment of  these flagrant attempts at pressure aimed at disrupting the electoral  process.

"We are confident that our people will not succumb to these threats,  and if the crimes committed are not immediately exposed and the  perpetrators are not brought to justice, full responsibility for what  has happened will fall on the ruling political force and its leader,  Nikol Pashinyan," the statement reads.