Armenian police files crime report with  Investigative Committee  after  FIS  report of voter pressure abroad

ArmInfo.The RA Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA)  has  filed a crime report with the Investigative Committee following reports of attempts  to obstruct the free exercise of electoral rights.

This was done after the Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS) of Armenia reported about  pressure being exerted on Armenian citizens in other countries and attempts being made to interfere in the electoral processes scheduled for June of this year.

 "Based on this information, following investigations conducted by  the Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs Police, a report was sent  to the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia regarding a  crime committed with the aim of hindering the free exercise of the  right to vote through material gain and coercing citizens to  participate in the elections through material or other dependence.  The Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs Police reminds that any  illegal influence or interference in electoral processes is subject  to legal assessment," the Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs  Police stated on their Facebook page.

In light of the above, the police urged citizens to exercise  vigilance and immediately report such incidents by calling 112,  sending information to mia@gov.am, or using the azdararir.am  platform.

Recall, the Armenian Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS) announced on  the morning of March 10 that pressure was being exerted on Armenian  citizens in other countries and that attempts were being made to  interfere in the electoral processes scheduled for June of this year.  However, the FIS did not specify which countries or political forces  were involved.

It should be added that Radio Liberty's Armenian service previously  reported that they had  a letter from Armenian Foreign Minister  Ararat Mirzoyan to Brussels at their disposal, in which he "requested  the dispatch of a rapid response team to Yerevan to counter Kremlin  disinformation and Russian interference in the parliamentary  elections in Armenia." In this regard, it was noted that the EU sent  a similar team of approximately 20 people to Chisinau during last  year's parliamentary elections "to help Moldovan authorities identify  and counter disinformation emanating from Russia on social media."  Earlier, the EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, announced the allocation  of 15 million euros to Armenia to "counter Russian propaganda" in the  run-up to the upcoming parliamentary elections.