Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract Party declared victory Monday in the nation’s general election, the first since 2023. File Photo by Kremlin POOL/ UPI | License Photo
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract Party declared victory Monday in the nation’s general election, the first since 2023.
Pashinyan’s Civil Contract Party faced opposition from pro-Russia parties, including the Strong Armenia Alliance which is led by Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan and the Armenia Alliance. The Civil Contract Party received 49.8% of the vote, followed by the Strong Armenia Alliance with 23.2% and the Armenia Alliance with 9.9%.
“Armenian people voted for peace, regional prosperity and cooperation,” Pashinyan said.
Armenia had not held a general election since suffering a military defeat against Azerbaijan in 2023. The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War was fought over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh territory.
Opposition parties blamed Pashinyan for losing the territory.
Armenia and Azerbaijan came to a preliminary peace agreement in Washington last year. Pashinyan told voters it was important to re-elect him so the peace deal remains in effect.
Pashinyan has been Armenia’s prime minister since 2018.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for Armenia to decide whether it will join the European Union or remain in the Eurasian Economic Union, a bloc led by Russia. Putin has warned that Armenia will lose out on the economic benefits of being part of his coalition if it continues to strengthen its ties with the West.
“The crisis in Ukraine began with efforts to move toward EU accession,” Putin said last month.
Moscow has taken action to add economic pressure on Armenia. In the last two weeks it banned the export of Armenian flowers, mineral water, cognac, fresh vegetables and fruit. It also supplies Armenia with gas.
Armenia is not currently a candidate to join the European Union. Pashinyan said Monday that Armenia will continue to participate and hold membership in the Eurasian Economic Union.
Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has alleged that there was interference in the election.
Armenian authorities arrested some members of opposition parties, accusing them of vote bribery, sedition and financial crimes. Karapetyan, the leader of the Strong Armenia Alliance, was under house arrest during much of the campaign, accused of calling for the government to be overthrown and financial crimes.
Historic June moments through the years
Troops in landing craft approach Omaha Beach on D-Day in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. D-Day was the largest seaborne invasion in history and turned the tide of World War II. Photo by UPI | License Photo
