Armenians arriving from Russia at Yerevan airport in the coming days could find themselves being handed army call-up papers, amid speculation about vote-buying in the country's imminent elections.
Online portal News.am reported on Friday that the Defence Ministry has confirmed the deployment of military police to the airport, and that they are authorized to conscript those liable for military service or reservists.
The government previously warned that Armenians entering the country to vote in exchange for payment would be sent on reserve exercises.
Voting in exchange for money would also be subject to criminal prosecution, the government said. Similar warning notices are also on display at passport control desks at the airport.
A pivotal election takes place in Armenia on June 7. The pro-Western government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is hoping to retain its parliamentary majority.
Tensions between Moscow and Yerevan over Armenia's future political direction have recently worsened as a result.
Moscow has responded to Yerevan's westward turn with increased pressure, banning imports of flowers and a range of food products from Armenia.
A senior government official in Yerevan described apparent plans by Moscow to pay Armenians living in Russia to travel to their homeland before the election and vote for the party of the pro-Russian oligarch Samvel Karapetyan.
Many in Armenia want to break free from the country's dependence on its long-standing protector.
Economic reasons play a role, as does disappointment over the war in Nagorno-Karabakh. When Azerbaijan wrested control of the disputed region from Armenians in 2023, Russia — preoccupied with the war in Ukraine — did not intervene.
