Armenia Court Upholds Pashinyan Win Over Opposition Challenge
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- Armenia's constitutional court rejected on Saturday a request by the pro-Russian Strong Armenia opposition bloc to overturn the results of the June parliamentary election.
- Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party won almost 50% of the vote, while the Strong Armenia bloc secured 23.3% and alleged irregularities in the poll.
- Opposition groups complained of a spate of pre-election arrests targeting their parliamentary candidates and supporters.
- International electoral observers, while noting allegations of vote-buying and other violations, said voting went smoothly at most polling stations.
- State news agency Armenpress reported the court's ruling upholding the result.
Why it matters: With the top court rejecting the challenge, Pashinyan's Civil Contract party — which won almost 50% — retains a strong mandate to pursue its pro-Western course, while the pro-Russian Strong Armenia bloc (23.3%) is locked out of power and left with only its on-the-record allegations of pre-election arrests and vote-buying as leverage.
