Lawyer: CEC considers stripping David Ghazinyan of immunity based on  audio recording not directly related to him 

ArmInfo. The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) of Armenia is considering stripping David Ghazinyan of immunity based on a case that bears no direct relation to him, as stated byAram Vardevanyan, a lawyer and member of the  Strong Armenia bloc, to reporters outside the CEC building.

The lawyer pointed out that the substantive details of the case  remain inaccessible to the defense, despite the fact that the  Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia, has essentially publicized an  audio recording, thereby violating the confidentiality of the  preliminary investigation.. "The recording was released on June 5,  2026. Under these circumstances, we are expected to discuss consent  for criminal prosecution and deprivation of liberty at the CEC.  However, arrest is typically a measure used when there is a risk that  a suspect might interfere with the investigation, flee, or commit  another crime. We are talking about a person who, from the moment the  recording was released, has remained available and has even answered  journalists' questions regarding this matter," Vardevanyan noted.

According to the lawyer, the situation is legally baseless within the  context of criminal proceedings. He explained that in the released  audio, a third party, who has no connection to Ghazinyan, simply  mentions his name. "It is simply absurd to attribute to a person  something that has nothing to do with them. Would a case have been  initiated just as quickly, for example, against a representative of  the 'Civil Contract' party if a third person simply mentioned their  name in an audio recording? Furthermore, I do not recall another  instance where information constituting a preliminary investigation  secret was publicized by the Investigative Committee, and just two  weeks later, criminal proceedings and a preventative measure were  already being discussed. In these conditions, even knowing that we  are dealing with a 'Civil Contract CEC,' at least one of these  motions should have been rejected. The Constitutional Court of  Armenia clearly establishes that a motion may be rejected if it is  aimed at interfering with a person's political activities,"  Vardevanyan argued.

In this regard, he expressed his conviction that the objective is to  demonstrate that a criminal case can be initiated against someone  like Ghazinyan, thereby fostering an atmosphere of fear.

Recall, on June 6, Armenia's Anti-Corruption Committee petitioned the  Prosecutor General's Office to file a motion with the CEC to strip  "Strong Armenia" candidate David Ghazinyan of his immunity. The  Committee justified this decision by citing information alleging that  "David Ghazinyan, together with supporters of their political force,  had provided electoral bribes."