Key facts
- Armenia's Central Electoral Commission confirmed final results of the June 7 parliamentary elections.
- Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party secured 49.74% of the vote, translating to 64 seats in parliament.
- The pro-Russian Strong Armenia coalition, led by Samvel Karapetyan, won 23.27% of the vote, securing 29 seats.
- Opposition groups protested the results, alleging electoral fraud and demanding a new election.
- Russia's Foreign Ministry criticized the election, citing "severe repression" and "grossly violated" democratic procedures.
Armenia's Central Electoral Commission officially confirmed the final results of the June 7 parliamentary elections, declaring a victory for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party. The party secured 49.74% of the vote, granting it 61 seats, which, with three additional seats for national minorities, totals 64 seats. This outcome allows Pashinyan's party to form a government independently. The Kremlin-friendly opposition coalition, Strong Armenia, led by billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, came in second with 23.27% of the vote, earning 28 seats plus one for national minorities, for a total of 29 seats. The Armenia Alliance secured third place with 9.92% and 12 seats. The Prosperous Armenia party, led by Gagik Tsarukyan, failed to cross the 4% threshold needed to win any seats.
The announcement was met with protests outside the electoral commission building, where hundreds of opposition supporters demanded the annulment of the results and a new election. Armenian boxer Israyel Hakobkokhyan, a participant in the protests, wore a shirt featuring Russian President Vladimir Putin and vowed to go on a hunger strike until new elections were held.
While the commission conducted recounts and discarded results from three rural polling stations, it stated these changes would not affect the overall outcome, a decision opposition groups viewed as evidence of collaboration with the ruling party. Opposition forces have alleged widespread electoral fraud, though independent monitors have not corroborated these claims. Following the initial announcement of results, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized the election, stating it occurred "amidst severe repression" and that democratic procedures were "grossly violated."
The election was widely interpreted as a choice between Armenia's westward orientation under Pashinyan and a potential reconciliation with Moscow. Pashinyan's government has increasingly sought closer ties with the West, distancing itself from Russia, its traditional ally. This shift has strained relations with Moscow, particularly after Russia's perceived failure to protect Armenia during the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis in 2024. The Kremlin has responded with threats, including a "Ukrainian scenario" for Armenia if it continues to strengthen ties with the EU, and has already recalled its ambassador from Yerevan, threatening to cancel a key energy agreement.