Armenia votes on PM’s geopolitical pivot amid Russian pressure
Voting has commenced in Armenia’s parliamentary election, with polls open from 08:00 to 20:00 local time on Sunday. The contest is widely interpreted as a referendum on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s foreign policy reorientation and his recent peace agreement with Azerbaijan.
Voting is underway in Armenia’s parliamentary election, a contest that has become a definitive test of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s strategy to strengthen ties with Europe and reduce dependence on Russia. The ruling Civil Contract party faces opposition from 17 other parties and two political blocs, most notably the pro-Moscow Strong Armenia party. The campaign has been dominated by debates over security, the peace process with Azerbaijan, and relations with Moscow, which has recently imposed trade restrictions and issued political threats.
Pashinyan cast his vote on Sunday, describing the European Union as Armenia’s “main partner in democratic reform implementation” and asserting that relations with Russia remain “institutional and based on mutual respect.” He has framed the election as a choice between a lasting peace with Azerbaijan or a return to war. This peace effort culminated in an agreement signed at the White House last August, following the 2023 conflict in which Azerbaijan seized control of the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave.
The political landscape has been further complicated by legal actions against the opposition. Armenian investigators issued six arrest warrants for members of the Strong Armenia party on Saturday, accusing them of vote-buying. The Central Election Committee confirmed that Strong Armenia could participate in the election after an appeal by the Republic party, following corruption allegations that had sought to bar them. Strong Armenia leader Samvel Karapetyan, a Russian-Armenian billionaire under house arrest on coup-plotting charges, is campaigning to keep Armenia close to Russia.
Economic performance has been a key pillar of the incumbent’s argument. Pollsters and experts predict Pashinyan will secure a strong mandate, citing a doubling of GDP per capita since he took office in 2018. Supporters have praised his governance, with voters citing visible economic growth. However, the opposition argues that cutting ties with Russia would lead to catastrophic economic fallout, while the incumbent party warns that a pro-Russian victory would result in war with Azerbaijan.
The election also scrutinises Pashinyan’s democratic record, with accusations of democratic backsliding emerging eight years after he swept to power on a promise to dismantle oligarchic systems. The government has defended its actions against individuals it claims are trying to foment coups. As polls close at 20:00 local time, the National Assembly must consist of at least 101 members, with parties required to win at least 4 percent of the vote to take a seat.
