Law-enforcement authorities have arrested four men accused of attempting politically motivated bomb attacks against members and supporters of Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party.
In a statement, the Investigative Committee said late on Wednesday that the failed attacks were aimed at bullying the government loyalists and thus “disrupting activities of public authorities.” Nobody was injured as a result.
According to the law-enforcement agency, one of the suspects planted an “improvised explosive device” that went off near the Yerevan house of Gagik Melkonyan, a Civil Contract parliamentarian, early on February 10. He mistakenly threw the bomb into the courtyard of an adjacent house, it said, adding that purpose of the attack was to “keep [Melkonyan] away from specific political statements and positions.”
The statement claimed that another suspect planted similar devices outside the offices of another pro-government lawmaker, Gurgen Arsenyan, as well as a Civil Contract chapter in Yerevan on February 20. It said both devices “did not explode by accident.”
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The attacks were allegedly organized by another arrested man, Gagik Sargsyan, and “other persons not yet identified by the investigation.” Sargsyan is a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), a major opposition party. Dashnaktsutyun has not yet commented on his arrest.
Sargsyan’s lawyer, Vahe Yeprikian, told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service on Thursday that his client denies the accusations brought against him.
In Yeprikian’s words, a Yerevan court allowed investigators to hold Sargsyan in detention for up to a month. The investigators had requested a two-month arrest warrant.
Meanwhile, Melkonyan blamed the blast near his house on “Russian agents” challenging Armenia’s current leadership.
“The opposition executes all Russian orders,” charged the outspoken lawmaker known for his strong criticism of Moscow. He did not name any Armenian opposition groups.
