Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has assessed the conduct of the recent parliamentary elections in Armenia, raising concerns over external influence.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, Zakharova stated in an interview with Sputnik radio that the elections were held under conditions of unprecedented pressure by the authorities against the opposition and significant interference from Western actors.
Zakharova emphasized that such active involvement by Western nations in regional electoral processes has not been observed previously, suggesting a shift in the geopolitical dynamics surrounding the South Caucasus.
The parliamentary elections, held on June 7, featured competition between 16 parties and two blocs. According to preliminary data from the Central Election Commission, voter turnout reached 58.94%. The political landscape has emerged as follows:
- The ruling "Civil Contract" party, led by Nikol Pashinyan, leads with 49.825% of the vote.
- The "Strong Armenia" bloc, led by Samvel Karapetyan, secured 23.281% of the vote.
- The "Armenia" bloc, led by former President Robert Kocharyan, obtained 9.934% of the vote.
Armenia's political environment remains highly polarized, with international observers frequently monitoring the country's electoral integrity and the influence of external geopolitical powers on its domestic policy.
