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Deputy Mayors of Goris town in southern Syunik province of Armenia were arrested on Tuesday, Armenia's Investigative Committee confirmed to Panorama.am. According to the source, criminal charges are brought against Irina Yolyan, envisaged by Part 3 of the Article 179 of RA Criminal Code which is squandering or embezzlement. The other deputy mayor Menua Hovsepyan faces charged, envisaged by Part 2 of Article 149.1  which is hindrance to the free implementation of the citizen’s right to elect committed with threat to property and with financial incentive. 

To remind, Goris Mayor Arush Arushanyan himself is under detention. Arushanyan was arrested for two months after the Yerevan court granted the petition submitted by Armenia's Special Investigation Committee. The Mayor, who is also member of 'Armenia' opposition parliamentary faction, is charged with offering bribes to two people to get them to vote in favor of opposition  bloc in June 20 snap parliamentary elections. 

The prosecution launched by the law enforcement against the heads of local self-government bodies in Armenia are widely seen as politically motivated and come as part of Pashinyan's recent crackdown on local community leaders who had actively supported the opposition during the pre-election period.