Arsen Gevorgyan, the Stepanavan city mayoral candidate of opposition Strong Armenia party, has been arrested. Arega Hovsepyan, an MP from the opposition “Strong Armenia” Faction of the National Assembly, informed this on Facebook on Wednesday morning.

"Early [this] morning we witnessed another manifestation of ‘democracy.’ There are large-scale political persecutions, arrests in Stepanavan. About 14 people—from supporters and party members of the Strong Armenia party, also including Strong Armenia’s [Stepanavan city mayoral] candidate Arsen Gevorgyan—have been arrested.

Yesterday I was in Stepanavan, and I had seen how much the people [there] love him [i.e. Gevorgyan], how warmly they accept him. And today's conduct is another manifestation of the authorities' fear.

You [i.e. the incumbent Armenian authorities] have no connection with the people, you have no connection with democracy," Hovsepyan said.

Earlier, Armenian News-NEWS.am reported that widespread searches and arrests have been carried out among supporters of the opposition Strong Armenia party in Stepanavan since early Wednesday morning, and 14 people have been arrested.

Local government elections are scheduled for Sunday in Stepanavan city. The Strong Armenia party has nominated Arsen Gevorgyan as its mayoral candidate there.