Nikol Pashinyan claims victory in Armenian parliamentary elections

On June 7, 2026, Armenia held parliamentary elections that served as a referendum on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's pro-Western geopolitical shift. Preliminary results from the Central Election Commission, with 16% of ballots counted, show Pashinyan's Civic Contract party leading with 54.4% of the vote. The opposition Strong Armenia party, led by Samvel Karapetyan, follows with approximately 22%, while the Alliance for Armenia holds 8.8%. Turnout was recorded at 58.97% among the 2.4 million eligible voters. The election occurred amidst heightened tensions with Russia and significant internal political friction, including the arrest of six Strong Armenia candidates on the eve of the vote. Karapetyan remains under house arrest facing charges of inciting a coup, which he characterizes as politically motivated. These elections are considered a pivotal moment for both the country’s future alignment and potential peace negotiations with Azerbaijan.