Armenian voters have backed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, reinforcing the country's apparent shift toward closer ties with Europe. The outcome has drawn criticism from Moscow and intensified debate over Armenia's geopolitical future. This episode explores the election results, regional reactions, and the strategic implications for the South Caucasus.

Armenia Votes For Pro-EU Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Moscow Cries Foul 

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Mondat registered decisive victory in parliamentary elections. He secured a victory in spite of the anger over Armenia's defeat in Nagorno-Karabakh region with Azerbaijan.

His Civil Contract party bagged nearly 54 per cent votes overcoming anger at his handling of the devastating fight for control of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region to secure a strong majority.&nbsp;

"The people of Armenia gave our Civil Contract party a mandate to lead the country and personally to me to lead the country as prime minister," Pashinyan, 46, said in the early hours of Monday after preliminary results were announced.

He urged supporters to flood the main square in the capital Yerevan for an evening rally to celebrate the victory.

When Pashinyan announced snap polls earlier this year, it was viewed by many as a gamble. Protests against his rule were coming to a head

Those rallies and calls from the opposition for Pashinyan's resignation began last November when he signed an unpopular peace deal mediated by Moscow to end fighting with Armenia's long-standing enemy Azerbaijan.

Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a six-week war last year which claimed 6,500 lives. Armenia had to hand over swathes of territory to Azerbaijan.

On Monday morning, the prime minister visited a military cemetery and laid flowers at the graves of soldiers. 
Sunday's vote was seen as a two-horse race between Pashinyan and his main rival Robert Kocharyan, who led Armenia between 1998 and 2008 and is seen as close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

'An honest leader'

Analysts said many Armenians had cast their ballots for the prime minister because they dreaded the return of old elites, a sentiment echoed on the streets of Yerevan.

"People want to have an honest leader who does not steal and is not an oligarch," said Ruben Kazaryan, a 60-year-old IT worker.&nbsp;

In the wake of the polls, Kocharyan, whose alliance received 21 percent of the vote, alleged foul play. 
"Hundreds of signals from polling stations testifying to organised and planned falsifications serve as a serious reason for lack of trust" in the results, Kocharyan's Armenia Alliance said in a statement.

The alliance said it would not recognise results until "violations" were studied.

However election observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe praised the polls as "competitive and well-run" and said that vote counting was "highly transparent."

"The fundamental freedoms key to democratic elections were generally respected," OSCE monitors said in a statement.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Mondat registered decisive victory in parliamentary elections. He secured a victory in spite of the anger over Armenia's defeat in Nagorno-Karabakh region with Azerbaijan.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Mondat registered decisive victory in parliamentary elections. He secured a victory in spite of the anger over Armenia's defeat in Nagorno-Karabakh region with Azerbaijan. His Civil Contract party bagged nearly 54 per cent votes overcoming anger at his handling of the devastating fight for control of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region to secure a strong majority. "The people of Armenia gave our Civil Contract party a mandate to lead the country and personally to me to lead the country as prime minister," Pashinyan, 46, said in the early hours of Monday after preliminary results were announced. He urged supporters to flood the main square in the capital Yerevan for an evening rally to celebrate the victory. When Pashinyan announced snap polls earlier this year, it was viewed by many as a gamble. Protests against his rule were coming to a head Those rallies and calls from the opposition for Pashinyan's resignation began last November when he signed an unpopular peace deal mediated by Moscow to end fighting with Armenia's long-standing enemy Azerbaijan. Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a six-week war last year which claimed 6,500 lives. Armenia had to hand over swathes of territory to Azerbaijan. On Monday morning, the prime minister visited a military cemetery and laid flowers at the graves of soldiers. Sunday's vote was seen as a two-horse race between Pashinyan and his main rival Robert Kocharyan, who led Armenia between 1998 and 2008 and is seen as close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. 'An honest leader' Analysts said many Armenians had cast their ballots for the prime minister because they dreaded the return of old elites, a sentiment echoed on the streets of Yerevan. "People want to have an honest leader who does not steal and is not an oligarch," said Ruben Kazaryan, a 60-year-old IT worker. In the wake of the polls, Kocharyan, whose alliance received 21 percent of the vote, alleged foul play. "Hundreds of signals from polling stations testifying to organised and planned falsifications serve as a serious reason for lack of trust" in the results, Kocharyan's Armenia Alliance said in a statement. The alliance said it would not recognise results until "violations" were studied. However election observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe praised the polls as "competitive and well-run" and said that vote counting was "highly transparent." "The fundamental freedoms key to democratic elections were generally respected," OSCE monitors said in a statement. (With inputs from agencies)

Armenia PM wins snap election despite Nagorno-Karabakh defeat anger

Armenia on Sunday holds early parliamentary polls triggered by reformist leader Nikol Pashinyan who seeks to cement his political authority in the post-Soviet country.

The 43-year-old former journalist came to power in May after spearheading weeks of peaceful anti-government rallies that ousted veteran leader Serzh Sarkisian.

The popular politician's reform drive, however, was stalled for months by opposition from Sarkisian's ruling party which had dominated parliament.&nbsp;

After weeks of political manoeuvering by the prime minister and more street protests, the old parliament was dissolved last month.&nbsp;

Pashinyan's party is expected to get a majority in the new legislature, letting him push ahead with his campaign to reshape the South Caucasus nation's political landscape and spark an "economic revolution".

"We will turn Armenia into an industrial, high-tech, export-oriented country," Pashinyan said last week at a rally of supporters, pledging "the best elections Armenia has ever seen".

"The elections must conform to international standards. We must rule out the use of administrative resources, ballot stuffing, voter intimidation," he added.

Last month, Pashinyan stepped down as prime minister to pave the way for snap elections under a clause in Armenian law and is now acting prime minister.&nbsp;

Observers expect him to ultimately return to the post with his party in control of parliament.

Parliamentary elections were not normally scheduled until 2022.

Revolutionary euphoria

Pashinyan has pledged to root out endemic corruption and address widespread poverty, earning him supporters in the impoverished landlocked nation of about three million people.

"He organised this revolution well and intelligently," construction worker Georgi Grigoryan said of Pashinyan. "We all hope that now everything will work out well."

On foreign policy, Pashinyan said Armenia will "further strengthen strategic alliance with Russia and, at the same time, step up cooperation with the United States and European Union."

Analysts say Pashinyan has sought new elections while he is at the peak of his popularity.

In September, his bloc won a landslide victory in municipal elections, getting over 80 per cent of the vote in the capital Yerevan where nearly 40 per cent of the former Soviet republic's population lives.

"The elections were called on the wave of a revolutionary euphoria," analyst Gevorg Poghosyan told AFP.

"But after the polls, that sentiment will inevitably weaken and Pashinyan and his team will face a reality check."

While many in Armenia have high expectations, others already started to complain about slow progress.

"I will be voting for Pashinyan because I believe he will jail all the corrupt officials who were pillaging the state for many years," Iveta Bakhshyan, a 43-year-old flower vendor in Yerevan, told AFP.

Meanwhile, pensioner Simon Martirosyan, 67, said he will not vote for Pashinyan's party because "they failed to achieve any tangible results".

"Nothing has changed in my life during the seven months of Pashinyan's rule, people are not better off," he told AFP in Yerevan.

Nine political parties and two electoral blocs are competing for mandates in the 101-seat legislature.

A party needs to get at least five per cent of the votes to get elected in the parliament, while an electoral bloc must clear a seven-per cent barrier.

Polls will open at 0400 GMT and will close at 1600 GMT. Results are expected to be released in the early hours on Monday.

Armenia on Sunday holds early parliamentary polls triggered by reformist leader Nikol Pashinyan who seeks to cement his political authority in the post-Soviet country.

Armenia on Sunday holds early parliamentary polls triggered by reformist leader Nikol Pashinyan who seeks to cement his political authority in the post-Soviet country. The 43-year-old former journalist came to power in May after spearheading weeks of peaceful anti-government rallies that ousted veteran leader Serzh Sarkisian. The popular politician's reform drive, however, was stalled for months by opposition from Sarkisian's ruling party which had dominated parliament. After weeks of political manoeuvering by the prime minister and more street protests, the old parliament was dissolved last month. Pashinyan's party is expected to get a majority in the new legislature, letting him push ahead with his campaign to reshape the South Caucasus nation's political landscape and spark an "economic revolution". "We will turn Armenia into an industrial, high-tech, export-oriented country," Pashinyan said last week at a rally of supporters, pledging "the best elections Armenia has ever seen". "The elections must conform to international standards. We must rule out the use of administrative resources, ballot stuffing, voter intimidation," he added. Last month, Pashinyan stepped down as prime minister to pave the way for snap elections under a clause in Armenian law and is now acting prime minister. Observers expect him to ultimately return to the post with his party in control of parliament. Parliamentary elections were not normally scheduled until 2022. Revolutionary euphoria Pashinyan has pledged to root out endemic corruption and address widespread poverty, earning him supporters in the impoverished landlocked nation of about three million people. "He organised this revolution well and intelligently," construction worker Georgi Grigoryan said of Pashinyan. "We all hope that now everything will work out well." On foreign policy, Pashinyan said Armenia will "further strengthen strategic alliance with Russia and, at the same time, step up cooperation with the United States and European Union." Analysts say Pashinyan has sought new elections while he is at the peak of his popularity. In September, his bloc won a landslide victory in municipal elections, getting over 80 per cent of the vote in the capital Yerevan where nearly 40 per cent of the former Soviet republic's population lives. "The elections were called on the wave of a revolutionary euphoria," analyst Gevorg Poghosyan told AFP. "But after the polls, that sentiment will inevitably weaken and Pashinyan and his team will face a reality check." While many in Armenia have high expectations, others already started to complain about slow progress. "I will be voting for Pashinyan because I believe he will jail all the corrupt officials who were pillaging the state for many years," Iveta Bakhshyan, a 43-year-old flower vendor in Yerevan, told AFP. Meanwhile, pensioner Simon Martirosyan, 67, said he will not vote for Pashinyan's party because "they failed to achieve any tangible results". "Nothing has changed in my life during the seven months of Pashinyan's rule, people are not better off," he told AFP in Yerevan. Nine political parties and two electoral blocs are competing for mandates in the 101-seat legislature. A party needs to get at least five per cent of the votes to get elected in the parliament, while an electoral bloc must clear a seven-per cent barrier. Polls will open at 0400 GMT and will close at 1600 GMT. Results are expected to be released in the early hours on Monday.

Armenia holds snap polls to cement reform drive

Armenia will hold early parliamentary elections in December after reformist leader Nikol Pashinyan's political manoeuvring led lawmakers on Thursday to dissolve the assembly.

The dissolution of parliament is a major win for acting prime minister Pashinyan whose efforts to reform the ex-Soviet country of some 3 million have been frustrated for months by the ruling party.

Pashinyan, who came to power in May after a popular revolt against the country's old guard, said the chamber was dissolved "in accordance with law" after MPs failed to elect a new prime minister for the second time over the past week.

"Today parliament is being disbanded for the first time and for the first time we will have early elections," Pashinyan said ahead of Thursday's vote. "We will ensure absolutely fair and legitimate elections and the rest is in people's hands."

An agreement has been reached with figurehead President Armen Sarkisian to hold the election on December 9, Pashinyan said.

The 43-year-old former journalist rose to power in May after spearheading weeks of peaceful anti-government rallies that ousted veteran leader Serzh Sarkisian.

Analysts said the victory of the popular politician's party in the December ballot was almost assured as Pashinyan pushes ahead with his campaign to reshape the South Causasus nation's political landscape.

"The snap polls' outcome is pretty predictable -- &nbsp;in December Pashinyan will be in control of parliament," analyst Vigen Hakobyan told AFP.

Since taking office, the hero of the street protests has won applause for launching an all-out crusade against endemic corruption and driving many members of the old elite from power.

But the new government quickly found itself at loggerheads with ex-president Sarkisian's Republican Party which had a majority in parliament and stood in the way of Pashinyan's reform drive.

New parliamentary elections were not scheduled until 2022 and last month Pashinyan stepped down as prime minister to pave the way for snap polls.

He twice put forward his candidacy for re-election after agreeing with all the parliamentary factions that they would vote him down to trigger early polls.

'Sky-high ratings'

During his first five months in office he pursued a balanced foreign policy. He reassured Russian President Vladimir Putin that Armenia would remain Moscow's loyal ally but at the same time he sought to charm Western leaders.&nbsp;

During an international summit in the capital Yerevan in October he danced traditional Armenian dances with French President Emmanuel Macron and wore matching socks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.&nbsp;

The politician's popularity at home has only grown over the past few months.&nbsp;

In August, thousands of Armenians shouted Pashinyan's name as he walked through the streets of Yerevan with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Political analyst Stepan Safaryan said Pashinyan wanted to hold early elections while he was at the peak of his popularity.

"Right now the approval ratings of Pashinyan and his party are sky-high but who knows how long this will last," he told AFP.

"That's why he was keen to secure the holding of early polls as soon as possible."

In September, Pashinyan's bloc won a landslide victory in municipal elections, getting more than 80 percent of the vote in the capital, where nearly 40 percent of the country's population lives.

The outgoing parliament will continue working until the new legislature is elected.

The ruling party did not go without resistance.

Last month Sarkisian's party passed a bill making it harder to dissolve the assembly and hold snap elections.&nbsp;

The move triggered new street protests by Pashinyan's supporters.

Pashinyan said at the time the adoption of the bill was nothing short of a "counter-revolution".

Armenia will hold early parliamentary elections in December after reformist leader Nikol Pashinyan's political manoeuvring led lawmakers on Thursday to dissolve the assembly.

Armenia will hold early parliamentary elections in December after reformist leader Nikol Pashinyan's political manoeuvring led lawmakers on Thursday to dissolve the assembly. The dissolution of parliament is a major win for acting prime minister Pashinyan whose efforts to reform the ex-Soviet country of some 3 million have been frustrated for months by the ruling party. Pashinyan, who came to power in May after a popular revolt against the country's old guard, said the chamber was dissolved "in accordance with law" after MPs failed to elect a new prime minister for the second time over the past week. "Today parliament is being disbanded for the first time and for the first time we will have early elections," Pashinyan said ahead of Thursday's vote. "We will ensure absolutely fair and legitimate elections and the rest is in people's hands." An agreement has been reached with figurehead President Armen Sarkisian to hold the election on December 9, Pashinyan said. The 43-year-old former journalist rose to power in May after spearheading weeks of peaceful anti-government rallies that ousted veteran leader Serzh Sarkisian. Analysts said the victory of the popular politician's party in the December ballot was almost assured as Pashinyan pushes ahead with his campaign to reshape the South Causasus nation's political landscape. "The snap polls' outcome is pretty predictable -- in December Pashinyan will be in control of parliament," analyst Vigen Hakobyan told AFP. Since taking office, the hero of the street protests has won applause for launching an all-out crusade against endemic corruption and driving many members of the old elite from power. But the new government quickly found itself at loggerheads with ex-president Sarkisian's Republican Party which had a majority in parliament and stood in the way of Pashinyan's reform drive. New parliamentary elections were not scheduled until 2022 and last month Pashinyan stepped down as prime minister to pave the way for snap polls. He twice put forward his candidacy for re-election after agreeing with all the parliamentary factions that they would vote him down to trigger early polls. 'Sky-high ratings' During his first five months in office he pursued a balanced foreign policy. He reassured Russian President Vladimir Putin that Armenia would remain Moscow's loyal ally but at the same time he sought to charm Western leaders. During an international summit in the capital Yerevan in October he danced traditional Armenian dances with French President Emmanuel Macron and wore matching socks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The politician's popularity at home has only grown over the past few months. In August, thousands of Armenians shouted Pashinyan's name as he walked through the streets of Yerevan with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Political analyst Stepan Safaryan said Pashinyan wanted to hold early elections while he was at the peak of his popularity. "Right now the approval ratings of Pashinyan and his party are sky-high but who knows how long this will last," he told AFP. "That's why he was keen to secure the holding of early polls as soon as possible." In September, Pashinyan's bloc won a landslide victory in municipal elections, getting more than 80 percent of the vote in the capital, where nearly 40 percent of the country's population lives. The outgoing parliament will continue working until the new legislature is elected. The ruling party did not go without resistance. Last month Sarkisian's party passed a bill making it harder to dissolve the assembly and hold snap elections. The move triggered new street protests by Pashinyan's supporters. Pashinyan said at the time the adoption of the bill was nothing short of a "counter-revolution".

Armenia to hold early parliamentary polls in December

Opposition leader <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/nikol-pashinyan-armenias-maverick-street-leader-and-future-pm-135455">Nikol Pashinyan</a> was elected as Armenia's new prime minister on Tuesday, capping a peaceful revolution driven by weeks of mass protests against corruption and cronyism in the ex-Soviet republic.

Moscow, which has a military base in Armenia, is wary of an uncontrolled change of power which would pull the country out of its orbit, but Pashinyan has offered assurances that he will not break with the Kremlin.

The election of Pashinyan, a former newspaper editor who spent time in prison for fomenting unrest, marks a rupture with the cadre of rulers who have run Armenia since the late 1990s.

He spearheaded a protest movement that first forced veteran leader Serzh Sarksyan to step down as prime minister and then pressured the ruling party to abandon attempts to block his election as prime minister, the country's most powerful post.

In a vote in parliament on Tuesday, 59 lawmakers backed Pashinyan's candidacy, including some from the ruling Republican Party, with 42 voting against.

In a vote last week, the Republican Party blocked Pashinyan, but it said on Tuesday it had decided to get behind him for the sake of unity and the good of the nation.

A central square in the capital, where Pashinyan's supporters gathered to watch the voting on huge television screens, erupted into joy when the result was shown.

The tens of thousands of people in Republic Square shouted "Nikol!" and white doves were released into the air. People hugged and kissed each other.

"I'm the happiest person in the world," said Shogik, a 17-year-old Pashinyan supporter.

Armenia is a country of about three million people nestling in mountains between Turkey and Iran.

Pashinyan's protest movement was sparked when Sarksyan, barred by the constitution from seeking another term as president, became prime minister instead. Many Armenians saw that as a cynical ploy by Sarskyan to extend his hold on power.

The protests led by Pashinyan, wearing his trademark camouflage T-shirt and military-style cap, channelled a sense among many Armenians that corruption and cronyism was rife in the ruling elite.

The tens of thousands of people in Republic Square shouted "Nikol!" and white doves were released into the air. People hugged and kissed each other.

Opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan was elected as Armenia's new prime minister on Tuesday, capping a peaceful revolution driven by weeks of mass protests against corruption and cronyism in the ex-Soviet republic. Moscow, which has a military base in Armenia, is wary of an uncontrolled change of power which would pull the country out of its orbit, but Pashinyan has offered assurances that he will not break with the Kremlin. The election of Pashinyan, a former newspaper editor who spent time in prison for fomenting unrest, marks a rupture with the cadre of rulers who have run Armenia since the late 1990s. He spearheaded a protest movement that first forced veteran leader Serzh Sarksyan to step down as prime minister and then pressured the ruling party to abandon attempts to block his election as prime minister, the country's most powerful post. In a vote in parliament on Tuesday, 59 lawmakers backed Pashinyan's candidacy, including some from the ruling Republican Party, with 42 voting against. In a vote last week, the Republican Party blocked Pashinyan, but it said on Tuesday it had decided to get behind him for the sake of unity and the good of the nation. A central square in the capital, where Pashinyan's supporters gathered to watch the voting on huge television screens, erupted into joy when the result was shown. The tens of thousands of people in Republic Square shouted "Nikol!" and white doves were released into the air. People hugged and kissed each other. "I'm the happiest person in the world," said Shogik, a 17-year-old Pashinyan supporter. Armenia is a country of about three million people nestling in mountains between Turkey and Iran. Pashinyan's protest movement was sparked when Sarksyan, barred by the constitution from seeking another term as president, became prime minister instead. Many Armenians saw that as a cynical ploy by Sarskyan to extend his hold on power. The protests led by Pashinyan, wearing his trademark camouflage T-shirt and military-style cap, channelled a sense among many Armenians that corruption and cronyism was rife in the ruling elite.

After peaceful revolution, Nikol Pashinyan elected Armenia Prime Minister

Opposition leader <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/nikol-pashinyan-armenias-maverick-street-leader-and-future-pm-135455">Nikol Pashinyan</a> was elected Armenia's prime minister on Tuesday, capping a peaceful revolution driven by weeks of mass protests against corruption and cronyism in the ex-Soviet republic.

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/armenia-protest-leader-nikol-pashinyan-elected-as-prime-minister-135502">election of Pashinyan</a>, a former newspaper editor who spent time in prison for fomenting unrest, marks a dramatic rupture with the cadre of rulers who have run Armenia since the late 1990s.

Moscow, which has a military base in Armenia, is wary of an uncontrolled change of power which would pull the country out of its orbit, but Pashinyan has offered assurances that he will not break with the Kremlin.

Pashinyan, born in 1975, spearheaded a protest movement that first forced veteran leader Serzh Sarksyan to step down as prime minister and then pressured the ruling party to abandon attempts to block his election as prime minister, the country's most powerful post.

Pashinyan's protest movement was sparked when Sarksyan, barred by the constitution from seeking another term as president, became prime minister instead. Many Armenians saw that as a cynical ploy by Sarskyan to extend his hold on power.

In a speech to parliament moments before the vote, Pashinyan called on Armenia's people to come together behind the new government he will lead. "The page of hatred should be turned," he said, adding: "May God help us."

Pashinynan faces tough challenges. The civil service and security apparatus are dominated by allies of his ousted predecessor.

He has said his first step will be to hold an early parliamentary election. In the meantime, he said he would carry out root-and-branch reforms to cut out graft and cronyism.

He said he would fire some holdovers from the ruling elite, among them the defence minister, but said there would be no "pogrom."

He must also reckon with a parliament where the Republican Party, allied to Sarskyan, holds a majority of seats and is sceptical about his revolution.

Vahram Baghdasaryan, head of the Republican Party in parliament, said for the sake of unity it was backing Pashinyan for prime minister but it had concerns about his fitness to run the country.

"I hope we are mistaken," said Baghdasaryan, an ally of Sarskyan.

Pashinyan, born in 1975, spearheaded a protest movement that forced veteran leader Serzh Sarksyan to step down as prime minister.

Opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan was elected Armenia's prime minister on Tuesday, capping a peaceful revolution driven by weeks of mass protests against corruption and cronyism in the ex-Soviet republic. The election of Pashinyan, a former newspaper editor who spent time in prison for fomenting unrest, marks a dramatic rupture with the cadre of rulers who have run Armenia since the late 1990s. Moscow, which has a military base in Armenia, is wary of an uncontrolled change of power which would pull the country out of its orbit, but Pashinyan has offered assurances that he will not break with the Kremlin. Pashinyan, born in 1975, spearheaded a protest movement that first forced veteran leader Serzh Sarksyan to step down as prime minister and then pressured the ruling party to abandon attempts to block his election as prime minister, the country's most powerful post. Pashinyan's protest movement was sparked when Sarksyan, barred by the constitution from seeking another term as president, became prime minister instead. Many Armenians saw that as a cynical ploy by Sarskyan to extend his hold on power. In a speech to parliament moments before the vote, Pashinyan called on Armenia's people to come together behind the new government he will lead. "The page of hatred should be turned," he said, adding: "May God help us." Pashinynan faces tough challenges. The civil service and security apparatus are dominated by allies of his ousted predecessor. He has said his first step will be to hold an early parliamentary election. In the meantime, he said he would carry out root-and-branch reforms to cut out graft and cronyism. He said he would fire some holdovers from the ruling elite, among them the defence minister, but said there would be no "pogrom." He must also reckon with a parliament where the Republican Party, allied to Sarskyan, holds a majority of seats and is sceptical about his revolution. Vahram Baghdasaryan, head of the Republican Party in parliament, said for the sake of unity it was backing Pashinyan for prime minister but it had concerns about his fitness to run the country. "I hope we are mistaken," said Baghdasaryan, an ally of Sarskyan.

Challenges before Armenia's new prime minister Nikol Pashinyan