Yerevan: Armenians Prepare for Crucial Parliamentary Elections
On Sunday, Armenians will go to the polls in a parliamentary election seen as a crucial moment for the government as it seeks to establish a peace agreement following a significant military setback against Azerbaijan three years ago.
Current polls indicate that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s party, the Civil Contract, is leading with support from about 32% of voters. In contrast, the pro-Russian Strong Armenia party is in second place, receiving around 11% of the support.
Since taking office in 2018, Pashinyan has steered Armenia towards closer ties with the West and away from its traditional ally, Russia. This shift has caused some tension with Moscow in the days leading up to the election. Additionally, Armenia’s GDP per capita has reportedly doubled during Pashinyan’s time in power.
At a recent rally in Yerevan, 39-year-old voter Karine Darbinyan expressed her optimism, saying, “I really like how Armenia has been growing right before my eyes.”
Challenges and Criticism
Despite his achievements, Pashinyan faces significant criticism from opposition figures and parts of the public who accuse him of surrendering to Azerbaijan, especially following the war in 2023. In response, he has highlighted his peace initiatives during the campaign, especially an agreement he signed with Azerbaijan at the White House last August, which was aimed at resolving the long-standing conflict that has persisted since the late 1980s.
The opposition landscape includes pro-Russian factions, notably Strong Armenia, which was established last year by billionaire Samvel Karapetyan. He advocates for maintaining Armenia’s close ties with Russia, a vital energy supplier and market for Armenian exports.
At a gathering for Strong Armenia, a woman named Gayane shared her concerns for the future, stating that she supports Karapetyan because he would help “keep our Armenia Armenian.” She lamented the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh, a region with a majority Armenian population that was retaken by Azerbaijan in the recent conflict, leading to a mass exodus.
“We lost Artsakh, hoping it would remain with us,” she said, using an Armenian name for the region. “The current authorities have taken away that hope. But Samvel Karapetyan has given us new hope to preserve our Armenia and our traditions.”
Political Tensions
Critics and human rights organizations have raised alarms over Pashinyan’s governance, alleging authoritarian tendencies as several political opponents have faced imprisonment in recent years. The government maintains that law enforcement actions are necessary to thwart attempts at coup-making.
In the lead-up to the elections, there have been several arrests targeting opposition members, including candidates from the Strong Armenia party.
Polling stations will open at 8 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) and will remain open until 8 p.m. Around 2.48 million people are registered to vote in Armenia, a nation of approximately 3 million residents.
