Armenians are voting today in parliamentary elections that will determine the composition of the country’s next National Assembly and, ultimately, its next government. The vote marks the first regularly scheduled parliamentary election since 2017, following two snap elections triggered by political crises in 2018 and 2021. It also comes at a pivotal moment for the country, as Armenia continues to navigate the aftermath of the 2020 war and the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh, ongoing negotiations with Azerbaijan, and fundamental questions about its security, foreign policy and future direction.
June 14, 2026
6:30 p.m.:Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has officially certified the final results of the June 7 parliamentary elections, confirming Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract Party as the winner with 49.7% of the vote. Voter turnout stood at 58.9%, the highest recorded in a regularly scheduled parliamentary election since 2018.
According to the final tally, Strong Armenia finished second with 23.2%, followed by the Armenia Alliance with 9.9%. Prosperous Armenia received 3.9% of the vote, narrowly missing the 4% threshold required for parliamentary representation despite recount requests and appeals.
The certification comes after several days of recounts and challenges by opposition forces, including Strong Armenia and the Armenia Alliance, both of which have alleged widespread violations and questioned the legitimacy of the vote. Prosperous Armenia had also sought recounts at hundreds of polling stations after falling just short of the threshold. The CEC conducted recounts in 86 polling stations that they drew at random out of a pool of 555 recount requests submitted by the opposition.
During its press briefing on Sunday, the CEC also announced that it would not order a repeat vote at the three polling stations where results had been annulled, stating that the number of affected ballots was not sufficient to alter the overall outcome of the election.
With Prosperous Armenia failing to enter parliament, Civil Contract retains not only a parliamentary majority but also its three-fifths majority, allowing it to pass constitutional laws and make a number of key institutional appointments without opposition support. However, the ruling party remains short of the two-thirds supermajority required to amend the constitution unilaterally.
In this special EVN Report discussion, Maria Titizian is joined by political scientists Dr. Nerses Kopalyan and Dr. Rafayel Oganesyan to break down the election results, voter behavior, the performance of the polls, and the broader implications for Armenia’s democracy and geopolitical trajectory.
Today, June 7, Armenians are voting in parliamentary elections that will determine the composition of the country’s next National Assembly and, ultimately, its next government. EVN Report’s editors Maria Titizian and Roubina Margossian talk about some of the major narratives that shaped the campaign.
Ներսես Կոպալյանի հետ զրուցել ենք քվեարկության օրվա առաջին կեսի մասնակցության ցուցանիշների, Ազգային ժողովի հնարավոր կազմի, ինչպես նաև Ռուսաստանից նախաձեռնված՝ հայաստանյան նախընտրական շրջանին առնչվող, սակայն, իրականում, ավելի հեռահար քաղաքական նպատակներ հետապնդող քայլերի մասին։
As Armenia heads into the final hour of voting, turnout has reached its highest level in three parliamentary elections. EVN Report’s Maria Titizian and Roubina Margossian break down the key developments of the day, from voter participation and reported irregularities to the unprecedented international attention focused on this pivotal election.
June 9, 2026
4:09 p.m.: Prosperous Armenia leader Gagik Tsarukyan has been formally charged as part of an ongoing criminal investigation, the Prosecutor General’s Office announced.
According to the authorities, Tsarukyan faces charges of large-scale tax evasion. Investigators have imposed a travel ban as a preventive measure while the investigation continues.
3:36 p.m.: Radar Armenia, a pro-government outlet, claims that Gagik Tsarukyan was stopped by law enforcement today while attempting to leave Armenia via the Zvartnots International Airport. Taron Chakhoyan, deputy chief of Pashinyan’s staff, accused Tsarukyan of trying to flee Armenia to “avoid accountability.”
Prosperous Armenia spokesperson Iveta Tonoyan responded that Tsarukyan and his wife had a pre-planned 3-day trip for “strictly personal and family reasons” and “that is the whole story.”
According to Tonoyan, When border officials at the airport told Tsarukyan that they needed to verify something, he replied that there was no need to verify anything and that, if the situation could be interpreted otherwise, he would simply cancel the trip and return home, which is exactly what he did.
3:07 p.m.: The Central Electoral Commission said that discrepancies identified by the Prosperous Armenia Party will be reflected in the final election results due to be published on Sunday.
The CEC said it will become clear only after the final results are released whether Prosperous Armenia has crossed the 4% electoral threshold. Under the preliminary results, the party received 3.996% of the vote.
Recounts are scheduled to conclude on Friday.
2:36 p.m.: The Central Electoral Commission said it will conduct recounts in 86 polling stations across 20 Territorial Electoral Commissions, following recount requests from participating political forces and on its own initiative.
2:26 p.m.: Russia will wait for Armenia’s final official election results before issuing congratulations to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Speaking to journalists, Peskov said Moscow preferred to wait for the official conclusions of the electoral process, citing what he described as “unclear issues” surrounding the vote and reports of election violations.
2։17 p.m.: The Armenia Alliance will appeal to the Constitutional Court to challenge the results of Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections, alliance member and opposition MP Ishkhan Saghatelyan said, noting that the alliance is preparing a package of evidence to support its appeal.
He argued that the elections had taken place “under pressure and in conditions that were neither free nor fair” and said there was substantial evidence to support those claims. He added that the alliance would file the appeal after the Central Electoral Commission announces the final election results.
1:09 p.m.: Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission said 17 of the country’s 38 Territorial Electoral Commissions (TEC) received a total of 30 recount requests submitted by proxies and candidates representing the Prosperous Armenia Party, the Wings of Unity Party and the Armenia Alliance. The remaining 21 Territorial Electoral Commissions received no recount requests.
The requests seek recounts in 555 polling stations nationwide.
The CEC said TECs will review and summarize the applications, after which information on the polling stations subject to recounts will be published on the commission’s website.
No applications were submitted requesting the invalidation of voting results at any polling station, the CEC said. The deadline for submitting recount requests expired at 11 a.m. on June 9.
11:44 a.m.: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated Pashinyan on his party’s reelection. In a social media post, he wrote: “The United States stands with Prime Minister Pashinyan and Armenia in the pursuit of peace, and we are committed to advancing the goals of the historic Washington Peace Summit, including implementation of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP). We look forward to working together to deliver peace, stability, and prosperity to the South Caucasus and beyond.”
11:27 a.m.: Strong Armenia’s Narek Karapetyan said in a Facebook live that, with the recount underway, it remains unclear whether Prosperous Armenia will ultimately secure enough votes to enter parliament.
Karapetyan argued that Prosperous Armenia’s entry into the National Assembly could strengthen the opposition’s ability to influence key parliamentary votes, including the confirmation of the Prosecutor General and other senior officials. He said the outcome would help determine whether the opposition has sufficient institutional tools to challenge what it considers unlawful actions by the government.
He said Strong Armenia will make an official statement after the recount.
Karapetyan also spoke of the possibility of “a street struggle through constitutional means” and the potential of parliamentary deputies from Civil Contract defecting to the opposition to unseat Pashinyan. “Of course, after elections, that is difficult, but within a five-year period in Armenia, we can see a great opportunity there,” Karapetyan said.
June 8, 2026
10:08 p.m.: The European Union congratulated Armenian citizens on exercising their democratic right to vote and called on all political actors to respect the outcome of the election, democratic procedures and to use legal mechanisms to address any electoral complaints.
The EU also welcomed the high level of civic participation, saying the vote demonstrated Armenia’s commitment to democracy, peace and enhanced regional cooperation, as well as closer ties with Europe.
Reaffirming its support for Armenia, the EU said it remains committed to supporting the country’s democratic development and further strengthening bilateral relations. It added that it looks forward to working with Armenia’s future government and parliament on implementing reforms, promoting regional peace, economic growth and connectivity, and strengthening the country’s sovereignty, resilience, democracy and prosperity.
8:52 p.m.: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi congratulated Prime Minister Pashinyan and his Civil Contract party in Armenian for their electoral victory in a social media post and added. “Our neighbors are our priority.”
Separately, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also congratulated Pashinyan.
“The renewed expression of confidence by the people of Armenia in Your Excellency’s government reflects their desire and aspiration for the continuation of policies aimed at strengthening peace, development, stability, and regional cooperation in the Caucasus,” he wrote.
Pezeshkian said during his new term, the “dynamic and satisfactory trend established in the bilateral relations in recent years will be further strengthened and consolidated through greater and more constructive cooperation.”
8:37 p.m.: Civil Contract parliament deputy Vahagn Aleksanyan responded to Prosperous Armenia representative Iveta Tonoyan’s earlier claim of results incorrectly entered into the Central Electoral Commission website. He argued that the votes were entered incorrectly not only for the Prosperous Armenia, but for absolutely everyone.
Specifically, in polling station 27/7, instead of the 301 votes received by Civil Contract, 63 votes were entered on the website and Prosperous Armenia’s uncovering of the error increased the ruling party’s votes by 238. At the 27/26 polling station, Civil Contract’s votes increased by 412.
He dismissed the opposition claim that votes were stolen. “If this was theft, then we were the biggest victims; but in reality, it is obvious what kind of technical error occurred, which naturally must be corrected, and all political forces must receive the exact votes they got,” he said.
8:17 p.m.: Arman Tatoyan, leader of the Wings of Unity Party, released a statement on the elections. The party received 2.3% of the vote.
He called it a “historic” election for Armenian statehood and national identity, while suggesting that the electoral process was “accompanied by an unprecedented abuse of administrative resources by the authorities,” including a “systematic scheme” to intimidate their supporters. He also pointed to “numerous cases where citizens reported being required by the authorities to photograph their ballots to prove they had voted for the ruling party.” He alleged that citizens were widely “ordered to attend government rallies under threats of dismissal from work, tax penalties, and other repercussions.”
Tatoyan insisted that the elections saw “overt interference from foreign nations—namely Baku, Ankara, Brussels, Washington and Moscow.”
Tatoyan said they are “convinced that the ruling party did not actually receive the support it attributes to itself through the official results” and their own votes were “falsified.” Therefore, they “categorically reject” the results and consider them “illegal and unreflective of the true will of the citizens of Armenia.” The statement announced their effort to initiate a recount and that they are discussing the possibility of challenging the election results in court.
“We do not intend to accept what has happened. We do not intend to remain silent. We do not intend to renounce our responsibility. Our struggle continues on all possible legal, political, and public platforms,” the statement reads.
7 p.m.: Armenia Alliance leader Robert Kocharyan said in a statement that the elections were held under what he described as “conditions of widespread government pressure, arrests of opposition figures, an unprecedented use of administrative resources, and electoral violations.”
Kocharyan announced that his bloc would challenge the election results and said it is currently consulting with its opposition partners on next steps. “One thing is certain: we will not back down; we will not abandon our trenches in this fight,” he said.
6:44 p.m.: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz congratulated Prime Minister Pashinyan and the Armenian people. He wrote, “Despite enormous pressure, the people of Armenia have clearly chosen democracy and peace. I look forward to further deepening our bilateral and European cooperation with Armenia!”
6:15 p.m.: Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said it welcomed that the elections were “concluded in a peaceful and calm atmosphere.” It expressed hope that Yerevan “will take bolder steps toward peace and normalization in the region.” Ankara, it said, will continue to “contribute to regional stability and prosperity, as it has done to date, based on the common interests of the countries of the region.”
5:15 p.m.: Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar congratulated Prime Minister Pashinyan on his victory. In a social media post, he wrote that Pashinyan has “demonstrated leadership by advancing his country towards peace and reconciliation with Azerbaijan, which will promote regional stability and cooperation.”
4:57 p.m: In a press conference, Prosperous Armenia representatives Arman Abovyan and Elinar Vardanyan alleged serious irregularities during the vote-counting process, describing it as not merely technical but politically motivated. They claimed that the vote count stopped and restarted inexplicably during tallying and the party’s absolute vote numbers were seen to decrease between page refreshes on the CEC results site.
Across just four electoral districts, the party claimed to have already identified 120 votes that were not counted or were lost. The gap they need to cross the 4% threshold is estimated at 50–60 votes.
Asked whether the party would take its seats if it ultimately clears the threshold, Abovyan declined to give a definitive answer, saying the decision would require internal consultations as well as discussions with other opposition forces.
4:10 p.m.: Prosperous Armenia spokesperson Iveta Tonoyan says recounts at several polling stations have uncovered significant discrepancies between the official vote tally sheets issued by local precinct election commissions and the results published on the Central Electoral Commission’s website.
According to Tonoyan, the tally sheet from Precinct 27/7 records 77 votes for Prosperous Armenia, while the CEC website lists only one. She said similar discrepancies were found at Precinct 12/20 (26 votes versus 1), Precinct 27/26 (19 votes versus 3), and Precinct 38/53 (7 votes versus 4).
Tonoyan said the discrepancies have been formally submitted to the CEC and that the published results are now being corrected. “The review of additional polling stations is ongoing, and further updates will be provided as new findings are confirmed,” she said in a statement.
3:51 p.m.: Strong Armenia Alliance rejected the official election results published by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), claiming the figures do not reflect the true will of voters.
In a statement released by spokesperson Marianna Ghahramanyan, the bloc said it operated throughout the electoral process under what it described as “unprecedented and mass pressure and persecution” orchestrated by the ruling authorities. It alleged that the pre-election period was marked by targeted actions against the alliance’s leadership, candidates, supporters, and staff, including mass unlawful arrests and criminal prosecutions aimed at restricting political competition and suppressing free voter expression.
The alliance further claimed that administrative resources were deployed on Election Day in an attempt to predetermine the outcome, and that violations were reported from across the country throughout the day.
Ghahramanyan added that the alliance is currently analyzing the situation and working to establish what it described as an accurate picture of voter expression, after which it will announce its position and next steps.
3:30 p.m.: In its preliminary findings on Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said voters were presented with a genuine choice among political alternatives in a well-administered electoral process. However, it noted that the campaign took place amid what it described as direct foreign pressure, including escalating trade restrictions and security threats aimed at influencing voters in favor of the opposition.
According to ODIHR, the campaign was highly confrontational and characterized by divisive rhetoric, allegations of vote-buying and other electoral violations. The organization noted that numerous criminal proceedings were initiated against opposition candidates and activists, which it said resulted in many opposition supporters refraining from active participation in the campaign. ODIHR also cited pressure on public sector employees to attend ruling party events and recently introduced social and economic measures (presumably by Russia), raising concerns about equal opportunities for campaigning.
The observation mission said the concentration of arrests and criminal prosecutions involving opposition figures contributed to perceptions of selective justice. It also pointed to a polarized media environment, inflammatory rhetoric, misinformation, and persistent foreign pressure and interference as factors that challenged democratic resilience and the integrity of public debate.
ODIHR said the elections were conducted under a revised legal framework that provides a sound basis for democratic elections. It noted that recent legislative changes were introduced through a broad consultative process and improved the framework, although some gaps and ambiguities remain and several previous ODIHR and Venice Commission recommendations have yet to be implemented.
The report found that election administration bodies managed technical preparations professionally and efficiently and enjoyed the trust of stakeholders. Election day procedures were assessed positively in the overwhelming majority of polling stations observed. ODIHR described the elections as generally peaceful and incident-free, with the process calm and well organized and procedures largely followed.
At the same time, ODIHR noted that some voters lacked basic information about polling station locations and voting procedures and suggested that voter information efforts could be improved.
The mission reported that online campaigning played a significant role and that regulation in this area remains limited, reducing transparency and oversight. It observed the use of manipulative, false and AI-generated content by some candidates, as well as the use of inauthentic and third-party accounts to discredit opponents, the government and the electoral process. While authorities took measures to address disinformation, ODIHR said the transparency and effectiveness of those efforts were limited by a lack of publicly available information.
ODIHR also found that recent amendments to campaign finance regulations broadened the definition of campaign expenditures, increased donation and spending limits, and redistributed oversight responsibilities. However, it said shortcomings remain that limit transparency, accountability and the integrity of party and campaign financing.
The report noted that despite gender quotas in election administration and parliament, as well as financial incentives for parties maintaining gender-balanced governing bodies, women’s participation in public and political life remained low. Women accounted for 37.3% of candidates.
According to ODIHR, Armenia’s media environment remained pluralistic but polarized. Its media monitoring found that many outlets amplified mutual insults and divisive campaign rhetoric while providing limited substantive analysis of party platforms. The mission stated that public television displayed clear bias in favor of the ruling party, while several private outlets portrayed the government negatively and offered favorable coverage to selected opposition forces. ODIHR concluded that these factors undermined voters’ ability to make an informed choice.
Overall, ODIHR said Armenian voters were able to make a genuine electoral choice in a professionally managed election process and a vibrant, pluralistic, though highly polarized, campaign environment. At the same time, it emphasized that the vote took place amid unprecedented foreign interference and pressure, including punitive trade measures and threats of additional consequences linked to electoral outcomes.
2:55 p.m.: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, on Pashinyan’s victory: “Armenia has chosen continuity and confirmed its pro-European direction. An important signal that the future of the region is still being written.”
2:55 p.m.: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Pashinyan on the “impressive victory” of Civil Contract. “The renewed mandate reflects the enduring trust and confidence of the people of Armenia in your leadership and vision. I look forward to working closely with you to further deepen the warm and historic ties of friendship and cooperation between India and Armenia,” he wrote on social media.
2:25 p.m.: Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that he would refrain for the time being from any official comment on the Armenian elections as the Central Election Commission has not yet announced the final results. He added that Moscow is taking note of reports that there were numerous violations.
2:06 p.m.: Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that the elections took place “amid unprecedented pressure on the opposition and interference from the West, primarily the EU.”
She said results show a “noticeably decline” in support for Pashinyan, suggesting that he “did not obtain a monopoly on power.”
She said Russia will shape its policy towards Yerevan based on the actual steps taken by the Armenian government. She said Russia is interested in “a strong and genuinely sovereign Armenia” and that the Armenian people are “a brotherly nation to us.”
Zakharova added the Armenian authorities are “making unilateral decisions about Armenia”s path of development without taking into account the views of all segments of the population [which] means leading the country toward further division and socioeconomic upheaval.”
2:03 p.m.: The Prosperous Armenia Party, which received 3.996% of the vote, says it will seek recounts at a number of polling stations after falling just a few dozen votes short of the 4% threshold required to enter parliament.
Party representative Iveta Tonoyan said Prosperous Armenia is also considering challenging the election results as a whole, citing what she described as “the massive scale of electoral violations we witnessed throughout the entire election process.”
1:22 p.m.: Moldovan President Maia Sandu congratulated Pashinyan, who she said had won “despite massive foreign interference.” In a social media post, she wrote that “Moldova and Armenia share a commitment to peace and stability in Europe, and I look forward to deepening our dialogue and working closely together in the years ahead.”
1 p.m.: The International Republican Institute (IRI), which had deployed a delegation of international election observers from seven countries for the election, released a preliminary statement on their findings.
“On Election Day, voting processes were calm and well-administered. We applaud election officials for ensuring a credible, transparent electoral process,” said delegation leader and National Endowment for Democracy (NED) Chairman Peter Roskam. “Looking forward, we recommend that officials continue efforts to mitigate vote-buying schemes and strengthen political finance transparency, both of which will help continue advancing Armenia’s democratic goals.”
Stephen Nix, IRI’s Senior Director for Europe and Eurasia, added, “The election results, along with our pre-election polling, show that Armenians clearly desire a pro-European future.” Nix continued, “Their election system withstood a barrage of foreign interference, and election officials should be commended for their success in ensuring election integrity.”
12:36 p.m.: Akanates (Eyewitness), Armenia’s largest domestic election observation mission, jointly operated by Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center and the Law Development and Protection Foundation, presented its preliminary findings following the June 7 parliamentary elections. The mission deployed 648 observers across the country.
According to its assessment, voting generally took place in a peaceful and competitive environment characterized by high voter turnout. At the same time, observers documented a number of procedural and technical shortcomings.
The mission reported that around 5% of polling stations had voting booth arrangements that could compromise ballot secrecy. It also recorded technical malfunctions with electronic equipment at 21 polling stations, 24 cases of apparent voter direction or controlled voting across 21 stations, and seven instances of deliberate ballot secrecy violations, some of which observers said appeared aimed at monitoring how individuals voted. Unauthorized persons were observed inside roughly 5% of polling stations.
Observers also reported instances of local officials directing voters or socializing near polling stations in the municipalities of Baghramyan, Gyulagarak and Hrazdan.
According to the mission, the vote-counting process was generally conducted in accordance with established procedures, with procedural violations documented at only two polling stations. However, at 17 polling stations, authorized observers and representatives were reportedly denied access to the counting process after polls closed.
Despite the violations recorded, the mission’s leadership said it had found no credible basis to conclude that the election results were fraudulent or that they failed to reflect the will of the voters. While pointing to broader concerns—including gaps in electoral legislation, the misuse of administrative resources, political culture, foreign interference, misinformation and allegations of vote-buying—it concluded that ballot secrecy had not been systematically compromised and that citizens were, by and large, able to cast their votes freely.
12:30 p.m.: Central Electoral Commission Chair Vahagn Hovakimyan defended the pace of the vote-counting process and rejected concerns over parties announcing election results before the CEC had published preliminary figures, saying it is normal for political forces to aggregate results more quickly than election authorities.
Speaking at a press briefing, Hovakimyan explained that party representatives receive polling station results immediately, while the CEC must complete a longer process involving the transfer, verification and entry of official protocols before publishing results.
Addressing allegations of election violations, Hovakimyan said the CEC had collected and reviewed all reports through a situational center. He said issues requiring immediate intervention had been addressed, while other allegations would receive legal assessment during the tabulation process.
Responding to criticism over soldiers voting after the official 8 p.m. close of polls, Hovakimyan said that in two polling stations large groups of soldiers had entered the polling station buildings before closing time. Under Armenian law, he said, all voters inside a polling station when it closes must be allowed to cast their ballots. He argued that preventing the soldiers from voting would have been a greater violation.
Hovakimyan acknowledged allegations that civilians were present near soldiers waiting to vote and said the matter would be examined. If legal consequences were warranted, he said, those responsible would be held accountable.
He said no reported violations were significant enough to affect the overall election outcome but stressed that recounts should be conducted wherever doubts exist, particularly because the electoral threshold could be determined by only a few votes.
Hovakimyan said the exact distribution of parliamentary mandates could not yet be determined because recounts had not been completed and it remained unclear which parties would ultimately pass the threshold.
He also revealed that the CEC was examining reports from a polling station where ballots for one political force were allegedly unavailable during voting. He said the commission could invalidate results from individual polling stations or order repeat voting where warranted before finalizing nationwide results.
12:15 p.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulates Armenia on “holding democratic and free elections,” and Pashinyan on his victory.
“This is also a victory for Armenia’s sovereignty, your independence, and your right to live the way you choose.” Zelensky said, adding that Ukraine is ready to expand bilateral cooperation, and that “now is precisely the time for the European Union to provide real support to Armenia and do everything necessary to ensure that people feel their lives are better thanks to their relationship with Europe. This is a test for the European Union. It is important not to lose time or miss opportunities.”
12:00 p.m.: The Independent Observer Alliance assessed the elections as having taken place in a highly polarized and competitive environment. It said public interest in the elections was high, with voter turnout exceeding that of the 2018 and 2021 snap elections.
They stated that the tools currently available to prevent the misuse of administrative resources were insufficient and that administrative resources had been used during the campaign.
The alliance identified vote-buying as the most significant problem affecting the electoral process. It stated that vote-buying had become widespread and served as one of the principal vote-gathering mechanisms for certain political forces. Observers expressed concern that political forces identified by the Anti-Corruption Committee as beneficiaries of vote-buying were also among those that performed significantly better than credible public opinion surveys had predicted.
The alliance highlighted what it described as Russian interference in the electoral process. It said this took four main forms: information operations involving disinformation and manipulation; illegal financing in support of certain political forces; unlawful influence on Armenian citizens residing in Russia; and economic pressure aimed at influencing public opinion in Armenia.
Observers reported that 844 polling stations experienced some form of issue. These included 156 procedural violations, 121 incidents involving actions that could affect voting secrecy, 84 violations related to presence or authority inside polling stations, 122 violations of ballot secrecy, 50 cases of campaigning inside polling stations, 75 conflict situations, and one incident involving physical confrontation.
The alliance stated that most problems were resolved following interventions by observers. However, it submitted four crime reports and eight formal complaints to the Central Electoral Commission.
Among the most serious violations cited was the absence of ballots for the National Democratic Pole in one polling station in Ararat region, where voters reportedly received only 17 ballots instead of 18. Observers described this as the most significant election-day violation.
The alliance also raised concerns about several polling stations where voting continued significantly beyond the official closing time due to large groups of military personnel being allowed to vote after 8:00 p.m. It argued that at least two polling stations should have their results annulled and repeat voting organized.
Observers reported one polling station where 66 voters cast ballots with the assistance of another person, which they said warranted further investigation.
During vote counting, observers reported procedural shortcomings in approximately 8% of observed polling stations but stated that they did not observe any falsification or attempted falsification of election results. They said no evidence was found of ballots being reassigned from one political force to another or of deliberate manipulation of vote counts.
The alliance criticized the Central Electoral Commission, arguing that it had failed to adequately oversee election legality and had not responded appropriately to major issues affecting the process.
The alliance concluded that, despite documented violations and the widespread use of vote-buying, the elections were overall free and fair and that the final results reflected the will of the voters. It stated that the identified violations did not have a significant impact on the overall election outcome and that even repeat voting in the disputed polling stations would not alter the distribution of seats in parliament.
The Independent Observer Alliance deployed approximately 700 observers on Election Day, including 300 mobile groups and 35 rapid response teams. Observers visited 1,906 of Armenia’s 2,005 polling stations, covering 95% of all precincts, and observed vote counting in 311 polling stations and all 38 Territorial Electoral Commissions.
11:30 a.m.: Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission has released the preliminary final results of the parliamentary elections.
With results now in from all 2,005 polling stations, the CEC said that 1,477,736 voters cast ballots.
Based on the preliminary count, three political forces have secured representation in the National Assembly: the Civil Contract Party, the Strong Armenia Alliance and the Armenia Alliance.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract Party received 727,160 votes, or 49.8% of the total, finishing well ahead of the Strong Armenia Alliance, which won 340,062 votes, or 23.29%. The Armenia Alliance came third with 145,097 votes, or 9.94%.
The Prosperous Armenia Party narrowly missed the 4% threshold required for parties to enter parliament, receiving 58,368 votes, or 3.9%.
Under Armenia’s electoral law, parties must win at least 4% of the vote to enter parliament, while electoral alliances must secure at least 8%.
Although Civil Contract won nearly half of all votes cast and is set to remain the dominant force in parliament, it fell short of the two-thirds majority required to unilaterally amend constitutional laws.
11:01 a.m.: French President Emmanuel Macron congratulates Pashinyan on his “resounding victory” in the elections.
“I am delighted to continue working alongside you to further strengthen our cooperation in service of our peoples, to support peace and Armenia’s sovereignty, and to bolster the momentum of rapprochement with Europe,” he wrote in a social media post.
10:32 a.m.: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulates Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. In a social media post, she wrote: “The spirit of the Velvet Revolution you led in 2018 is alive and well. We deeply value our partnership with a democratic Armenia that is drawing ever closer to Europe. Armenia can count on us.”
10:00 a.m.: With all polling stations reporting and 1,476,916 votes counted, Civil Contract is leading with 49.81% of the vote. Strong Armenia is in second place with 23.29%, followed by the Armenia Alliance with 9.94%. Prosperous Armenia is just at the electoral threshold with 4%.
9 a.m.: Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Prime Minister Pashinyan on his victory in a statement.
“According to preliminary data from the majority of international observers, the elections were held in accordance with the country’s current electoral legislation, openly and with proper conditions ensured for citizens to exercise their right to vote,” the statement read.
Tokayev wished Pashinyan “continued success in serving the long-term national interests of Armenia,” noting that Astana is “ready to continue active cooperation with friendly Armenia in all areas of mutual interest.”
9 a.m: With 1,963 polling stations (98% of all precincts) and 1,436,452 votes counted (97% of the total vote), Civil Contract is in the lead with 49.83%, Strong Armenia at 23.35%, and Armenia Alliance at 9.93%. No other party is currently clearing the threshold, including Prosperous Armenia at 3.98%.
8 a.m.: With results reported from 1,642 polling stations (82% of all precincts) and 1,152,184 ballots counted (78% of the total vote), Civil Contract’s share stands at 49.83%, Strong Armenia at 23.38%, and Armenia Alliance at 10.03%.
All other parties and alliances remain below the threshold required to enter parliament, including Prosperous Armenia which currently stands at 3.78%.
4:14 a.m.: The Armenia Alliance issued a statement noting that only 25% of polling stations had been tabulated by the Central Electoral Commission and under these circumstances, Nikol Pashinyan’s declarations of victory “amount to a criminal act of usurping power, supplanting the CEC, and engaging in gross interference in its operations.”
“Rather than issuing directives and making threats to the judiciary and state institutions before final results are in, the incumbent administration still owes a legal accounting for all the electoral violations recorded throughout this process, the flagrant misuse of administrative resources, and the acts of suppression carried out against the free expression of citizens’ will,” the statement said.
The alliance said it will inform the public about the final results and its course of action once the official and complete data has been compiled.
3:45 a.m.: In an emergency press conference, Strong Armenia leader Samvel Karapetyan challenged Pashinyan’s early victory claims and alleged serious irregularities in the vote-counting process.
He dismissed Pashinyan’s declaration of victory, arguing that with only 30% of polling stations reporting, any such announcement was “manipulative.”
He also claimed that authorities had halted the vote count entirely, announcing that results would only be released in the morning. “There has never been a case in world history where the count is stopped during tabulation, with results promised for the morning,” he said, describing the move as a continuation of what he called unlawful conduct.
3:24 a.m.: Arman Tatoyan, leader of the Wings of Unity Party, criticized Pashinyan’s declaration of victory as “unconstitutional” and “exceeding the authority of the Prime Minister.”
He said Pashinyan had no authority to come forward with such a statement “when slightly more than 10% of voting results have been counted, and when not even 10% of Yerevan’s voting results have been tallied.” He described it as an “openly unlawful pressure on the CEC with the intent of influencing the election results, an act that is criminally punishable.”
Tatoyan also criticized Pashinyan’s remarks to hold various opposition leaders accountable, which Tatoyan said he has no authority over, calling it “a flagrant violation of the law.”
2:15 a.m.: Speaking at Civil Contract’s campaign headquarters, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared victory, saying his party was on course to form a single-party government and describing the result as a “historic victory.”
He said he will heed the demands of the citizens to rid the country of the criminal-oligarchic system and the leaders of these forces will be brought to justice.
Pashinyan said the people of Armenia had voted for peace and regional prosperity and expressed hope that the result would be welcomed by both Turkey and Azerbaijan. He went on to say that Armenia hopes to eventually establish diplomatic relations and have fully open borders with Turkey, while the immediate priority with Azerbaijan is signing the peace agreement and launching the TRIPP project as soon as possible, which he described as a game changer, transforming the region from a deadlock to a crossroad.
Armenia will continue its EU integration and will continue its membership in the EAEU and will develop relations with Russia and other countries of the EAEU.
Pashinyan said he had spoken informally with French President Emmanuel Macron and the Prime Minister of Georgia after the polls closed. He expressed confidence that the election would not trigger post-election unrest, arguing that such developments generally occur when the legitimacy of the vote is in question. He also claimed that the opposition would be unable to mount a significant challenge, alleging that much of its support had been obtained through vote-buying. He reiterated that the leaders of the main opposition forces, Robert Kocharyan (Armenia Alliance), Gagik Tsarukyan (Prosperous Armenia Party) and Samvel Karapetyan (Strong Armenia), would be brought to justice and should be imprisoned.
Pashinyan said he believes Armenia now faces fewer security threats than in the past and predicted that greater regional stability would pave the way for billions of dollars in investment and sustained economic growth.
On Armenia’s European aspirations, he said the country is not yet ready for EU membership, arguing that the immediate goal is to continue democratic reforms until Armenia fully meets European standards and is recognized as a consolidated democracy. At that point, he said, EU accession would become a political question, noting that both the European Union could decide against further enlargement and the Armenian people could ultimately reject membership in a referendum.
The aim is to create tangible alternatives for the citizens of Armenia to choose. This includes having a choice between the EU and the EAEU.
2 a.m.: With 420 precincts reporting and 144,564 votes counted, Civil Contract continues to hold the lead with 54.64% of the vote, followed by Strong Armenia at 21.99%, Armenia Alliance at 8.67% and Prosperous Armenia at 5.34%.
1 a.m.: With 204 precincts reporting and 54,678 votes counted, Civil Contract continues to lead with 55.72%, followed by Strong Armenia at 21.92%, Armenia Alliance at 8.69% and Prosperous Armenia at 5.05%.
12 a.m.:The Central Electoral Commission releases the first official results from 110 polling stations. With 19,654 votes counted, Pashinyan’s Civil Contract is in the lead with 57%, followed by Samvel Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia at 21.4%, Robert Kocharyan’s Armenia Alliance at 8.2%, and Gagik Tsarukyan’s Prosperous Armenia at 5.1%.
June 7, 2026
9:36 p.m.: Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs recorded dozens of electoral violations throughout Election Day and detained 18 individuals by the close of polls. The ministry’s emergency and election hotlines received 619 calls. The most common violations were attempted repeat voting, with 37 cases logged, and breaches of ballot secrecy, with 24 cases. Authorities also recorded six cases involving the obstruction of voting rights, as well as single incidents of vote buying, obstruction of the electoral process, and possession of bladed weapon at a polling station, hooliganism, and physical assault.
A further 338 reports of alleged violations remain under review. Authorities said they are also monitoring election-related content in the press and on social media.
Meanwhile, the Migration and Citizenship Service reported heavy demand for voter documentation services. A total of 2,398 people applied to be added to supplementary voter lists, with 1,152 receiving the required certificates. Another 1,205 voters were issued temporary identity documents to enable them to cast ballots in their place of temporary residence. The service’s call center handled 1,725 election-related inquiries, while 1,745 people received in-person assistance at offices and mobile service points across the country.
9 p.m.: The Central Electoral Commission reports the final turnout (as of 8 p.m.) is 58.97%. 1,476,597 people have cast their ballot. This is the highest turnout recorded since 2018:
2017 – 1,575,786 (60.88%)
2018 – 1,261,105 (48.63%)
2021 – 1,281,997 (49.39%)
The breakdown by regions is as follows:
Yerevan: 58.46%
Syunik: 66.67%
Vayots Dzor: 65.63%
Tavush: 63.4%
Aragatsotn: 61.7%
Kotayk: 61.66%
Ararat: 59.87%
Lori: 58.59%
Armavir: 55.8%
Shirak: 55.46%
Gegharkunik: 54.6%
8:21 p.m.: Following reports of power outages at several polling stations after voting ended, Romanos Petrosyan, the interim head of Armenia’s Electric Networks, said electricity has now been restored at all affected locations and that all polling stations across the country currently have uninterrupted power.
The official stressed that voting has concluded nationwide and that all ballots are already secured inside sealed ballot boxes.
According to Petrosyan, approximately 2,000 employees remain on standby and will respond to any further outages that may occur during the vote-counting process.
The company also noted that polling stations are equipped with flashlights and backup power sources, while representatives of competing political parties remain present alongside the sealed ballot boxes as counting continues.
8 p.m.: Polls have now closed across Armenia, bringing an end to voting in the country’s parliamentary elections. Election commissions across the country will now begin the count, with preliminary results expected later this evening. EVN Report will continue providing live updates as ballots are counted and the first official figures are released.
8 p.m.: The Investigative Committee reported that as of 8 p.m., investigators had opened 59 criminal proceedings related to alleged election offenses.
The largest share of cases—30 in total—involve allegations of double voting or voting on behalf of another person. Another 17 cases concern alleged violations of ballot secrecy, while nine relate to obstruction of voting rights, the work of election commissions, or the rights and duties of election participants. Three additional cases involve the alleged dissemination of false information about terrorism.
Of the 59 cases, 43 were opened by regional investigative units and 16 by investigators in Yerevan. Nine individuals have been detained in connection with the investigations.
8 p.m.: Polls have now closed across Armenia, bringing an end to voting in the country’s parliamentary elections. Election commissions across the country will now begin the count, with preliminary results expected later this evening. EVN Report will continue providing live updates as ballots are counted and the first official figures are released.
6 p.m.: Armenia’s Independent Observer Alliance said that as of 6 p.m. it has recorded violations at around 800 polling stations, or 44% of the 1,830 polling stations visited by its observers, who have monitored nearly 92% of all polling stations nationwide.
At a briefing, the alliance said the most common issues involved procedural violations, concerns over ballot secrecy, campaigning inside polling stations and disputes between election participants. Most campaigning violations involved party-branded clothing, hats and badges, which observers said were largely removed after intervention.
Observers also reported continued queues at some polling stations, attributing them to both high voter turnout and technical problems with electronic voter registration devices. In some cases, incorrect voter numbers printed on registration receipts slowed the voting process as commission members were forced to manually locate voters on paper lists.
The alliance said that, at the time of reporting, representatives of the Strong Armenia alliance accounted for 39% of recorded violations, followed by Civil Contract at 29%, the Armenia Alliance at 9% and Prosperous Armenia at 8%.
Among the incidents highlighted by observers was the detention of a precinct election commission chair by the Anti-Corruption Committee on election morning, forcing voting to begin without the commission chair. Observers also reported the disappearance of roughly 18,000 ballot papers at one polling station, though they stressed the ballots could not be used fraudulently because they lacked the security stickers required for voting.
The alliance raised concerns about a polling station where ballots for the National Democratic Pole party were reportedly unavailable for most of the day, describing it as the most serious issue documented so far and one that could call into question the integrity of voting at that polling station.
Observers also said more than ten hospitalized servicemembers were unable to vote at one polling station because their names were omitted from a voter list submitted by a military unit commander. In another case, 66 voters cast ballots with assistance at a single polling station, a figure observers said warrants further scrutiny.
The alliance criticized what it described as misinformation about the election circulating through Russian sources and reiterated its call for the Central Electoral Commission to revoke the accreditation of a CIS observer accused of publicly campaigning for one political force.
Despite the number of reported violations, the alliance said that as of 6 p.m. it had not identified irregularities on a scale that would be likely to materially affect the overall election result. It also said concerns over potentially transparent ballot envelopes had largely subsided after election commissions replaced questionable envelopes when issues were raised.
Observers noted exceptionally high voter turnout compared with previous elections, attributing it primarily to an unusually competitive race and an extended campaign period. They said there was no widespread evidence of administrative pressure on voters and that participation appeared to reflect strong public engagement in the election.
6 p.m.: The Central Electoral Commission reports that as of 5 p.m., 48.92% or 1,224,957 people have cast their ballot. This is the highest turnout recorded in the past three national elections:
2017 – 1,317,936 (50.93%)
2018 – 1,025,002 (39.54%)
2021 – 989.972 (38.17%)
The breakdown by regions is as follows:
Yerevan: 48.52%
Syunik: 55.36%
Vayots Dzor: 54.15%
Tavush: 53.27%
Aragatsotn: 51.13%
Kotayk: 51.01%
Lori: 49.77%
Ararat: 48.43%
Gegharkunik: 46.86%
Shirak: 46.23%
Armavir: 44.8%
5 p.m.: Armenia Interior Ministry reports that its operational command center had received 57 election-related calls through its emergency line and dedicated election hotline.
Authorities documented 19 cases of repeat voting, 15 violations of ballot secrecy, two cases involving the obstruction of voting rights, one instance of vote-buying, and one case involving the possession of a bladed weapon at a polling station. All have been referred to preliminary investigation bodies and 14 individuals have been detained.
A further 198 reports of alleged violations are currently under review. Authorities are also monitoring election-related publications in the press and on social media platforms.
Meanwhile, the Migration and Citizenship Service reported that 1,650 people applied to be added to supplementary voter lists, while 916 individuals received temporary identity documents to allow them to vote in their respective communities.
4:02 p.m.: Armenia’s Independent Observer Mission says that as of 2 p.m. it has recorded 536 election-day violations at 387 polling stations across the country after monitoring roughly 71% of all polling stations nationwide.
Speaking at a briefing, the mission said most violations were procedural in nature, though observers also documented concerns related to ballot secrecy, campaigning inside polling stations, voter monitoring, and the presence of unauthorized individuals.
The mission reported technical problems with electronic voter registration devices, including faulty receipts and discrepancies between electronic and paper voter lists. At one polling station, voting was reportedly suspended for about 40 minutes due to such issues.
Observers also raised concerns about the transparency of some ballot envelopes, warning that under certain lighting conditions they could pose risks to ballot secrecy. The mission said it had filed complaints with the Central Electoral Commission and the Prosecutor General’s Office.
According to the observers, around 20% of recorded violations involved Election Commission members and another 20% involved party representatives. Representatives of the Strong Armenia alliance accounted for 41% of attributed violations, followed by Civil Contract representatives at 26%.
The mission also reported widespread instances of campaign materials, including badges, hats and shirts, being displayed inside polling stations despite election-day restrictions.
The mission further criticized what it described as misleading election-related information circulated by the Hayakve initiative, several Russian-language Telegram channels and a CIS election observer, whom it accused of openly campaigning for one political force on social media.
3:35 p.m.: The Human Rights Defender’s Office reports that, as of 3 p.m., it had received 59 calls concerning alleged human rights issues related to the electoral process. According to the Office, 15 of those cases were resolved with its intervention, while the remaining reports either fall outside its mandate or do not require immediate action.
3:30 p.m.: Armenian police detained three people on suspicion of vote buying in the Shirak region after receiving reports that party representatives were distributing bribes to voters outside a polling station in Gyumri, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said. Authorities said voter lists were recovered at the scene, and an investigation is underway.
3 p.m.: The Central Electoral Commission reports that as of 2 p.m., 33.84% or 847,226 people have cast their ballot. This is the highest turnout recorded in the past four national elections:
2017 – 865,884 (33.46%)
2018 – 636,055 (24.53%)
2021 – 695,626 (26.82%)
As before, turnout in Yerevan, at 33.38%, is very close to the nationwide total. Turnout in the regions is as follows:
Syunik: 39.02%
Tavush: 38.87%
Vayots Dzor: 37.81%
Kotayk: 35.95%
Aragatsotn: 34.99%
Lori: 34.96%
Ararat: 32.81%
Gegharkunik: 32.29%
Shirak: 31.57%
Armavir: 30.39%
2:30 p.m.: The General Prosecutor’s Office reports that since February 2026, they have received and processed a total of 293 reports of alleged election-related criminal offenses. Of these, 174 resulted in the opening of criminal proceedings, while 297 individuals have been charged. So far, 14 criminal cases, involving 42 defendants have been referred to court with indictments.
The Prosecutor’s office also said it has asked the Central Electoral Commission to lift the immunity of 12 parliamentary candidates in order to initiate criminal proceedings and seek their detention. The CEC has approved 11 of those requests, while one remains under consideration.
2:17 p.m.: The Investigative Committee reported that an authorized representative of the Strong Armenia alliance was detained after allegedly filming ballots at a polling station in Armenia’s Ararat region.
According to investigators, a voter received ballot papers and entered a voting booth but later told election officials that the voting receipt had been left inside the booth and could not be found.
The Election Commission chair entered the booth and searched for the receipt. During the inspection, the Strong Armenia representative allegedly approached the booth and filmed ballots, as well as a box designated for unused ballots.
A criminal case has been opened on suspicion of violating the secrecy of the vote.
2:00 p.m.: As of 2 p.m., Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said its election hotline had received 29 reports of suspected election-related violations.
Authorities said six cases of attempted double voting and five alleged violations of ballot secrecy had been referred to investigative bodies. Six individuals have been detained in connection with those incidents.
The Ministry added that another 121 reports of alleged violations are currently under review. Officials are also monitoring election-related content published in the media and on social media platforms.
2 p.m.: The Central Electoral Commission reports that 71 domestic media outlets and 180 foreign and international journalists have been accredited to cover Armenia’s parliamentary elections. By comparison, just 49 foreign journalists were accredited for the 2021 vote, marking a more than threefold increase in international media presence. The surge reflects the unprecedented rise in interest in Armenia amid the country’s evolving geopolitical landscape and widespread attention to allegations of foreign interference in the election.
1:42 p.m.: Armenia’s Justice Ministry reports that of the 922 individuals currently under house arrest in Armenia, 869 are eligible to vote. More than half, 434 individuals, have expressed intent to vote, with 205 having already cast their ballots by 12:30 p.m. These individuals are escorted to polling stations by law enforcement.
Among these are at least high-profile figures, namely Samvel Karapetyan, a Russian-Armenian billionaire and the de facto leader of the Strong Armenia alliance, and Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan of Shirak, who has been sentenced last year to two-years imprisonment on charges of publicly calling for seizing power.
1:18 p.m.: Independent Observer, the second-largest local domestic election observation mission, reported that by 10:30 a.m. its roughly 700 observers had visited 860 polling stations, representing about 43% of all precincts nationwide.
According to the mission, 81% of polling stations had no issues related to setup or equipment, it noted lighting problems at 4% of stations, issues with informational posters at 4.5%, and other setup-related concerns at 11%. It also reported that 98% of polling station cameras were functioning properly.
It identified a technical issue at one polling station (9/51), where the electronic voter registration system printed receipts with discrepancies in the sequence numbers. The mission said the problem does not affect the integrity of the vote but creates additional work for election officials.
It also reported that at some polling stations, voting envelopes were more transparent than intended, potentially compromising ballot secrecy. It suggested this may be due to different production batches being used across various polling stations and said the issue was not widespread.
It also reported instances of proxy representatives wearing clothing or accessories bearing campaign symbols, most commonly badges associated with the ruling Civil Contract party, and shirts linked to other political forces. Independent Observer said it is taking steps to ensure that these individuals either remove the items in question or leave, change and return.
1:17 p.m.: The Investigative Committee reports that a representative of the Strong Armenia alliance was arrested after allegedly attempting to vote twice at a polling station in the Gegharkunik region. Election officials said an electronic voter verification device detected the attempted duplicate vote and printed a receipt indicating an “attempted double vote.”
12 p.m.: The Central Electoral Commission reports a turnout of 14.48% (362,657) as of 11 a.m.
It is the highest turnout in over a decade. The three most recent parliamentary elections had the following turnout:
2017 – 344,714 (13.32%)
2018 – 201,250 (7.76%)
2021 – 316,291 (12.21%)
The CEC reported that turnout in Yerevan, 14.46%, is nearly equal to the national total.
In the regions, turnout fluctuated. They are listed below from highest to lowest:
Tavush: 17.84%
Syunik: 17.55%
Kotayk: 16.02%
Vayots Dzor: 15.82%
Aragatsotn: 14.79%
Lori: 14.44%
Ararat: 14.33%
Gegharkunik: 12.98%
Armavir: 12.63%
Shirak: 12.6%
11:30 a.m.: Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan, who heads the party’s electoral list, said the unprecedented voter turnout reflected public demand for change.
Speaking to reporters after casting his ballot, Tsarukyan said that voters were seeking political change after years of frustration.
Asked whether the opposition had a realistic chance of taking power, Tsarukyan responded, “Absolutely.”
He declined to predict how many votes his party would receive but expressed confidence in victory, saying that whichever political force secured the most votes would nominate a candidate for prime minister.
11:30 a.m.: In this Election Day Primer, EVN Report’s editors Maria Titizian and Roubina Margossian talk about some of the major narratives that shaped the campaign.
11:30 a.m: At a press conference, Strong Armenia representative Gohar Meloyan alleged that the party had documented hundreds of procedural, technical and substantive electoral violations, suggesting that certain political forces are trying to improperly interfere with the will of the citizens. She claimed proxy representatives from their alliance had been denied access to several polling stations, and said there were localized power outages, and technical problems. Meloyan also displayed what she said were defective or intentionally defaced ballot papers, specifically highlighting Strong Armenia’s N3 ballot, alleging that they may have been intended to invalidate votes during the final count.
11 a.m.: At a press conference, Central Electoral Commission Chair Vahagn Hovakimyan reported that three Election Commission officials, including two precinct chairs and a secretary, did not show up for duty on Election Day at their assigned stations because they had been arrested amid an ongoing criminal investigation. Hovakimyan said while minor technical issues have occurred in some places, the election is proceeding normally.
10 a.m: Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan cast his vote at a polling station in central Yerevan. He then responded to reporters’ questions. Regarding reports of Russian influence operations, he said that “any schemes that do not comply with Armenian law must be assessed by Armenian state institutions” and are “discussed as needed,” adding that after election results, “there will be no need for such a discussion.”
He downplayed tensions with Russia, stating that “these kinds of working-level issues arise constantly,” but is currently being “amplified by certain political forces in Armenia who have an interest in highlighting these tensions.” He said that Armenia cannot be stripped of its EAEU membership and dismissed the idea of holding a referendum on the matter, since Armenia has not formally applied for EU membership. He said EAEU partners are being “tactically unwise” by tarnishing the organization’s image in Armenia.
Narek Karapetyan, leading the list of the opposition alliance Strong Armenia and nephew of its de facto leader Samvel Karapetyan, voted in his native Tashir in northern Armenia. He told reporters that he voted for “major change” and “a country where Armenians are focused on rebuilding their nation rather than tearing each other down, fighting, and fracturing society.” He urged citizens to vote, otherwise “their fate will be decided for them by someone else.” He stated that “no foreign country should meddle in Armenia’s internal politics.”
Catholicos Garegin II also cast his vote and said he voted so that God keeps the Armenian state “unshakable, and blesses our people to overcome these difficult and heavy trials present in our lives, and to build a powerful, secure, safe, law-abiding, and prosperous country.”
8 a.m.: Polls have opened across Armenia in the country’s parliamentary elections. According to the Central Electoral Commission, 2,483,520, citizens are eligible to vote at 2,005 polling stations nationwide. A total of 18 political forces (16 parties and two alliances) are contesting the election, with 2,103 candidates on the ballot. Eight international and 13 domestic observation missions are monitoring the vote and will also observe the counting process after polls close at 8 p.m.
