Pashinyan Party Wins 49.81% Plurality in Armenia Election as Pro-Russia Parties Gain Seats

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan claimed victory early Monday after his Civil Contract party secured 49.81% of the vote in Sunday’s parliamentary election. The result gives the party 61 seats in the 105-member National Assembly, enough to form a government on its own and pass most legislation without partners.

Four parties cleared the 4% threshold to enter parliament. Strong Armenia finished second with 23.29%, followed by Armenia with 9.94% and Blossoming Armenia with 4%. Voter turnout reached 59.97%, according to the election commission.

Pashinyan’s main challenger, Samvel Karapetyan, led the Strong Armenia bloc and remains under house arrest on charges of advocating the government’s overthrow, which he has called politically motivated. Investigators issued six arrest warrants for Strong Armenia members the day before the vote, accusing them of vote buying.

Russian officials have imposed export restrictions on Armenia in recent weeks and issued statements comparing the country’s course to Ukraine’s. Pashinyan has said the election result will allow Armenia to continue strengthening independence and deepening ties with the West.