Votes are being counted in Armenia. So far, results from approximately 68 percent have been reported. polling stations. Nikol Pashinyan's Social Contract party received 51 percent. support, while the main opposition forces Strong Armenia – approx. 24 percent votes, Bloc Armenia – 9%. and Thriving Armenia – 4 percent.
Turnout in all districts was nearly 59%.
Elections in Armenia. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke
— This is a historic victory. This means that the citizens of Armenia stood on the side of the state, independence, future and peace, Pashinyan said at the election evening at his party's headquarters. The Social Contract won the 2021 elections. Then it obtained 53.95%. votes.
He described his main rivals, three pro-Russian parties, as the “three-headed war party” which he already used in the campaign. He added that these are not political forces, but a “criminal-oligarchic” group that should be uprooted from Armenia. He repeated that the leaders of these formations will be brought to justice and should be imprisoned.
— The authorities did not illegally interfere with citizens' freedom of expression, Pashinyan assured overnight when asked about the opposition's reports of electoral violations by the authorities appearing throughout election Sunday. He said law enforcement agencies were responding to reports of electoral irregularities, such as vote buying. “It is also clear that the three-headed war party used such methods and law enforcement responded,” he added.
Elections in Armenia. Prime Minister Pashinyan's main rival spoke out
— You can be sure, the elections are not over yet. There are still no final results. This will not be their victory, Pashinyan's main rival, Samvel Karapetyan, said in his speech. He is an Armenian-Russian oligarch who leads the Strong Armenia coalition. He added that according to his calculations, the Social Contract received approximately 30 percent. votes.
The elections in Armenia are seen as a test of Pashinyan's policy, which seeks to normalize relations with Azerbaijan after losing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, rapprochement with the West and reducing dependence on Russia. The main opposition forces – Strong Armenia, Bloc Armenia and Thriving Armenia – criticize him for making concessions to Azerbaijan and favors closer relations with Moscow.
