Armenians go to polls in test of PM’s pivot to Europe amid Russian pressure

Voting is under way in Armenia’s parliamentary election, seen as a test of the government’s efforts to forge a peace deal with rival Azerbaijan and loosen ties with Moscow.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his ruling Civil Contract party are seeking a strong mandate to continue a geopolitical reorientation towards Europe and away from former imperial ruler Russia. The opposition they face includes several parties that are vocally pro-Moscow.

Casting his vote on Sunday, Pashinyan said Armenia would continue strengthening its independence, statehood, democracy and rule of law. “The European Union is our main partner in democratic reform implementation and we will continue that path,” he said.

He also stressed that there were no tensions between Armenia and Moscow, saying, “our relations with Russia are institutional and based on mutual respect,” the Armenpress news agency reported.

Pashinyan has moved Armenia closer to the West and away from Russia since coming to power in 2018, drawing the ire of Moscow.

Russian officials hit Armenian exports with restrictions in recent weeks, while high-ranking officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have made thinly veiled threats comparing Armenia’s path to that already taken by Ukraine.

A day before the vote, Armenian investigators said they issued six arrest warrants for members of the Strong Armenia party, accusing them of buying votes.

The nation’s Central Election Committee confirmed on Saturday that the party could run after a member of another opposition party, Republic, appealed for Strong Armenia to be barred over corruption allegations.