Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has claimed a historic victory in Armenia’s latest elections, framing the results as a mandate for independence and peace as opposition leaders contest the incomplete tallies.
A Contentious Victory
“This is a historic victory,” Pashinyan declared at his party headquarters, noting that the Civil Contract party outperformed its 2021 results of 53.95 percent. He characterized the outcome as a clear choice by the Armenian people for statehood, independence, and peace.
Pashinyan dismissed his primary opponents—the “Strong Armenia,” “Armenia Bloc,” and “Prosperous Armenia” parties—as a “three-headed party of war.” He described them as a “criminal-oligarchic” group that must be uprooted from the country, reiterating his stance that their leaders belong in prison.
Opposition Rejects Preliminary Results
Samvel Karapetian, an Armenian-Russian oligarch and leader of the Strong Armenia coalition, rejected the narrative of a Pashinyan victory. He insisted that the election is not over and claimed that his internal calculations show Civil Contract receiving only about 30 percent of the vote.
Clashing Visions for Armenia’s Future
The election serves as a referendum on Pashinyan’s strategy to normalize relations with Azerbaijan following the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh, seek closer ties with the West, and reduce dependence on Russia. Opposition forces remain critical of these concessions, advocating instead for a pro-Moscow orientation.
Partial results currently show Strong Armenia with 23 percent, the Armenia Bloc with 9 percent, and Prosperous Armenia with 4 percent. Voter turnout reached approximately 59 percent across all districts.
Tensions and Electoral Allegations
The campaign took place in a highly polarized environment marked by reports of Russian disinformation campaigns and significant pre-election arrests. Critics argue that Pashinyan is using the state apparatus for political repression, noting that 700 people were detained during the election period, including 75 members and supporters of Strong Armenia.
Pashinyan defended the actions of law enforcement, denying that the government interfered with free speech. He claimed authorities were responding to illegal activities such as vote-buying, asserting that the opposition had engaged in these practices throughout the day.