Armenians vote as premier navigates EU ties under Russian scrutiny

Voting Underway in Armenia’s Parliamentary Election

Armenia is holding its parliamentary election, with two political blocs and 17 parties participating. The election comes after a campaign focused on security and identity issues.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his ruling Civil Contract party are seeking re-election. Pashinyan has stated that Armenia will continue to strengthen its independence, statehood, democracy, and rule of law. He also emphasized the importance of relations with the European Union in democratic reform implementation.

The opposition includes several parties that support ties with Russia. The Strong Armenia party was cleared to run after a court decision, despite allegations of corruption. Armenian investigators have issued six arrest warrants for members of the Strong Armenia party, accusing them of buying votes.

Pashinyan has framed the election as a choice between a lasting peace with Azerbaijan and a return to war. His peace efforts have been a key aspect of his campaign, including an agreement signed at the White House last August with Azerbaijan.

Polls indicate that Pashinyan’s party is likely to win. The Central Election Committee confirmed that parties must win at least 4 percent of the vote to take a seat, while blocs made up of three or more parties must hit 8 percent.

The campaign has been marked by various issues, including security and identity concerns. Most pollsters and experts have predicted Pashinyan’s party will come out ahead. Voting is currently underway, with polls opening at 8am local time and closing at 8pm.

Source: Al Jazeera