Armenians go to the polls under Russian pressure aimed at preventing a drift toward West
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- Armenia will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday, June 7, 2026, with two political blocs and 17 parties competing for seats in a 101‑member National Assembly.
- Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his ruling Civil Contract party are seeking a strong mandate to shift Armenia’s foreign policy toward the West, despite Russian pressure and export restrictions.
- President Vladimir Putin warned that Armenia’s move toward the EU mirrors Ukraine’s path, while Russian officials have imposed new export restrictions on Armenian goods.
- Strong Armenia party members faced six arrest warrants over alleged vote‑buying, yet the Central Election Committee cleared the party to run after a Republic party appeal.
- Donald Trump publicly endorsed Pashinyan on social media, praising him and urging Armenians to “Make Armenia Great Again,” a stance that displeased the Kremlin.
Why it matters: A Pashinyan victory would deepen Armenia’s Western alignment, reducing Russian leverage and potentially easing export bans, while pro‑Russian parties risk losing parliamentary power and Kremlin influence.
