Tatoyan's statement about pressure on voters followed the participation of children in a rally of the ruling party.

There are numerous allegations of pressure on voters who intend to vote against the ruling party, stated former Armenian Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan. Representatives of the Civil Contract party refused to acknowledge that officials had gathered teachers and schoolchildren for the rally in Aparan.

As reported by the Caucasian Knot, teachers and students from three schools in the Aparan community of the Aragatsotn region took part in the ruling Civil Contract party's election campaigning today instead of attending classes. Employees of the House of Culture and school cleaners were also recruited to support the authorities during their working hours. The Electoral Commission reminded that involving public sector employees and schoolchildren in election campaigning is contrary to Armenia's Electoral Code. Ruling party representatives distanced themselves from the incident in the Aragatsotn region, but observers and the teachers themselves confirmed the violation.

Wings of Unity Announces Pressure on Voters

The authorities are using various mechanisms to control and intimidate people, stated former Armenian Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan, who heads the proportional list of candidates for parliament for the Wings of Unity party.

For example, inspectors checking water meters, holding lists in hand, are demonstratively clarifying who local residents will vote for. Tatoyan added that if "these so-called inspectors" discover that people won't vote for the government, they take notes, instilling fear, spreading propaganda in favor of the government, and then leave, News.Am reported.

"Furthermore, people are receiving threats at work and at the universities where they study. We receive reports almost daily about the steps Nikol Pashinyan's supporters are taking to keep citizens in fear and discourage them from participating in the elections. Teachers are being transported in Gazelles to rallies during class hours, and lessons are cancelled." "Pashinyan had previously criticized the previous authorities for the same thing," he emphasized.

"Civil Contract" threatened school principals with consequences for children's participation in campaigning

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the principals of four schools have submitted resignations, but they will not be approved until an internal investigation.

"I ordered them to submit their resignations, and they did. But these resignations will not be signed off yet. We will conduct an internal investigation to avoid injustice or emotionally motivated decisions. "If it turns out that an illegal order was given, they will definitely be fired," Pashinyan said.

The Prime Minister added that teachers, as citizens, have the right to participate in political events, but it must be determined whether this occurred voluntarily or through the use of administrative resources.

"Where it turns out that an illegal order was given, there will be consequences," he noted.

If it turns out that the teachers and children attended the election meeting under duress, a legal assessment will follow, said Arayik Harutyunyan, head of the Civil Contract party's campaign headquarters.

According to him, as the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister (who is on vacation), he has strictly ordered an investigation into the incident, and the Ministry of Education has contacted the Aragatsotn regional administration for clarification.

If the teachers and children came voluntarily, Disciplinary measures will follow (for teachers), and if there was an element of coercion, then a legal assessment will follow, reports Sputnik Armenia.

Responding to journalists' comments that one of the pre-election observation initiatives ("Eyewitness") has data indicating that the vice-governor of Aragatsotn gave the order to teachers, Harutyunyan stated: "If such data exists, let them publish it." There was not even a hint from the government and the prime minister to impose administrative measures on people."

According to him, all officials involved in the Civil Contract party's election campaign are on vacation.

As a reminder, the election campaign period officially began on May 8, but in fact, election banners and portraits of political party leaders appeared on the streets of cities and villages more than a month before this date. The Central Election Commission of Armenia explained that placing outdoor advertising of political parties outside the official campaign period is not a violation.

The parliamentary elections in Armenia are scheduled for June 7. Seventeen parties and two blocs have been admitted to them. Samvel Karapetyan's Strong Armenia, along with Robert Kocharyan's Armenia bloc and the Prosperous Armenia Party Gagik Tsarukyan's "Armenia" is one of the most pro-Russian parties in the Armenian parliamentary elections. The Kremlin is backing Karapetyan, but he is legally ineligible to participate, Armenian political scientists previously noted.

The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report "2026 Elections to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia".