Supporters of Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) leader Gagik Tsarukyan gathered outside a Yerevan court today where a hearing was scheduled to review a National Security Service (NSS) motion to detain the businessman and politician charged with vote buying during the 2017 parliamentary election.

Police on the scene told Tsarukyan’s supporters to maintain social distancing even though such an order was impossible to enforce.

BHK MPs also gathered outside in court in support of Tsarukyan. They were joined by ARF member Artzvik Minasyan and Homeland Party member Arsen Babayan.

On June 21, the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction rejected a NSS motion to detain Tsarukyan. The Court of Appeals overturned this decision and sent the case back to the lower court for a new hearing.

Tsarukyan has rejected the vote buying charge, describing it as a politically inspired government vendetta against him.

Tsarukyan and his lawyers failed to appear at court on September 23 for a similar hearing. They claim they were never informed of the hearing.