Polling stations opened across Armenia at 08:00 local time on Sunday as voters began casting ballots in the country’s parliamentary elections, widely viewed as a crucial test of the country’s political direction and its efforts to reshape relations with both the West and Russia.
More than 2.4 million eligible voters are expected to take part in the election, which will determine the composition of Armenia’s 101-seat National Assembly. Polling stations will remain open until 20:00 local time, after which vote counting will begin.
The election is the first regularly scheduled parliamentary vote in Armenia since 2017, following snap elections held in 2018 and 2021 amid periods of political upheaval. Nineteen political forces, including 17 parties and two alliances, are competing in the race.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s ruling Civil Contract party is seeking a renewed mandate as Armenia continues efforts to finalize a peace agreement with Azerbaijan and deepen ties with Western partners. Opposition parties have criticized the government’s handling of the peace process and its foreign policy shift away from Russia, making geopolitical orientation one of the central issues of the campaign.
The campaign officially concluded on June 5, with June 6 designated as a day of electoral silence. International observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and other organizations are monitoring the vote.
Preliminary turnout figures are expected throughout the day, while the first election results are anticipated after polls close on Sunday evening.
