Voting is under way in Armenia’s parliamentary election, a closely watched contest seen as a test of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s efforts to secure a peace agreement with Azerbaijan and continue his reform agenda.
About 2.5 million eligible citizens are voting to elect the 101-seat National Assembly, with polling stations open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time across the country.
Pashinyan’s ruling Civil Contract party is seeking a renewed mandate, while opposition forces include several parties and alliances offering alternative visions for Armenia’s future.
The election comes amid debate over security, national identity and the country’s political direction.
Pashinyan has framed the vote as a choice between securing a lasting peace with Azerbaijan and risking a return to conflict.
His peace efforts have been central to the campaign following decades of fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which ended in 2023 when Azerbaijani forces took control of Nagorno-Karabakh and most of the enclave’s Armenian population fled.
Speaking after casting his ballot on Sunday, Pashinyan said Armenia would continue strengthening its independence, statehood, democracy and rule of law.
He also said the country would continue its path of cooperation with the European Union on democratic reforms.
Analysts say the campaign has largely focused on questions of security, Armenia’s regional position and what future relations with neighboring countries should look like.
More than a dozen political parties and two political alliances are participating in the election under Armenia’s proportional representation system.
Among the main opposition forces is Strong Armenia, a party founded by Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, who is under house arrest on charges of plotting a coup.
Authorities announced arrests and investigations linked to alleged vote-buying involving candidates associated with Strong Armenia.
Separately, election officials confirmed that several election commission members were arrested as part of an ongoing criminal investigation but said voting would continue without disruption.
The election is also being viewed as a measure of public support for Pashinyan’s governance, eight years after he came to power following mass street protests.
Most analysts and observers expect the prime minister’s party to emerge ahead when votes are counted after polling stations close.