Strong Armenia party petitions for annulment of parliamentary election results

The pro-Russian Strong Armenia party has formally petitioned Armenia’s Central Election Commission to annul the results of the parliamentary election held on June 7, citing significant voting irregularities. Aram Vardevanyan, a spokesperson for the opposition alliance, submitted the petition in Yerevan on Friday, arguing that the victory claimed by incumbent Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party should not stand despite the governing party securing 49.8 per cent of the vote. Strong Armenia received 23.2 per cent of the vote in the contest.

The call for annulment arrives against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tension, following Russian condemnation of the outcome and accusations of Western interference. Moscow was quick to criticise the result as it became clear that Pashinyan’s government had retained power. Analysts have accused Russia of spreading online misinformation and Kremlin-friendly narratives that portray Western cooperation as dangerous to the nation’s stability.

Specific complaints from the opposition include the presence of military personnel at polling stations after polls closed. On Thursday, the Central Election Commission declared tallies at two polling stations invalid due to this concentration of military personnel. Opposition groups have also reported a spate of arrests targeting their parliamentary candidates and supporters in the period leading up to the vote.

International electoral observers noted that while voting proceeded smoothly in most stations, there were allegations of vote-buying and other violations. The dispute occurs within a context of strained relations between Yerevan and Moscow, including recent Russian trade bans on Armenian seafood, flowers, mineral water, and alcohol. The European Union has accused Moscow of using these economic measures to cripple Armenia’s economy and influence the election outcome.

Armenia remains a member of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), although it froze its participation in the bloc in 2024 as Pashinyan seeks pragmatic relations with its larger neighbour. Russia maintains a military base in the country and is one of Yerevan’s top trading partners, with 30 per cent of Armenia’s exports going to Russia. The Kremlin has previously warned that Armenia cannot simultaneously be part of both the European Union and the EAEU.

The Central Election Commission is expected to publish the final results of the election on Sunday. The decision on whether to annul the tallies at the two affected stations and the broader petition from Strong Armenia will likely shape the immediate political landscape in the South Caucasus.