On June 6, the Central Electoral Commission of Armenia decided to allow the opposition bloc “Strong Armenia,” led by businessman Samvel Karapetyan, to remain on the ballot for the upcoming parliamentary elections. This decision came just one day before the elections, amidst allegations of voter bribery against the bloc.
The pro-European party “Republic,” represented by its leader Aram Sargsyan, had submitted a request for the disqualification of “Strong Armenia,” citing ongoing criminal investigations related to alleged electoral misconduct. Sargsyan’s statement indicated that the opposition bloc had purportedly engaged in multiple actions aimed at distributing electoral bribes.
“During the 2026 electoral campaign, the party alliance ‘Strong Armenia’ and associated individuals allegedly committed numerous acts aimed at distributing electoral bribes and concealing property interests,” Sargsyan stated at the beginning of the commission’s meeting, as reported by the commission’s chair, Vaagn Ovakimyan.
In response, “Strong Armenia” rejected the accusations, labeling them as baseless and demanding a swift dismissal of the claims. Their lawyer, Aram Vardevanyan, argued that the electoral code requires clear evidence of violations, which he asserted had not been provided.
“The electoral code states: continuous violations… you have not proven any violations… You claim there are accusations. There are no accusations,” Vardevanyan said.
After a two-hour deliberation, the commission unanimously rejected the request from the “Republic” party, stating that there were no grounds to invalidate the registration of “Strong Armenia,” and that the allegations were based on assumptions rather than concrete evidence.
The request for disqualification followed televised debates featuring Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, during which concerns were raised about the allegations of voter bribery. Pashinyan noted that his party would not approach the electoral commission to seek the disqualification of opponents, aiming to avoid the impression of attempting to eliminate rivals out of fear of losing.
On the same day, it was reported that six candidates from “Strong Armenia” had been arrested on charges of money laundering and other crimes. Additionally, the party’s leading candidate, Narek Karapetyan, faced allegations related to concealing his Russian citizenship.
Parliamentary elections in Armenia are scheduled for June 7. In recent years, Armenia has been moving closer to the European Union, a shift that has drawn criticism from Russian authorities. Pashinyan’s candidacy has received support from U.S. President Donald Trump, while Russia has accused him of pursuing a pro-Western agenda.
Currently, “Strong Armenia” is considered a significant competitor to Pashinyan’s party. The bloc emphasizes strengthening ties with Russia and highlights the importance of Russian influence in Armenia’s economy and military relations.
Armenia’s Euro-Integration Path and Parliamentary Elections
On January 9, 2025, the Armenian government approved a draft law to initiate the country’s accession to the European Union. Pashinyan clarified that this approval did not equate to EU membership but was a preliminary step towards discussing a roadmap with the EU and conducting a referendum, as required by Armenian law.
On February 12, the Armenian parliament passed a bill titled “On the Start of the Accession Process of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union.” On April 4, President Vaagn Khachaturyan signed the law to commence this process.
On May 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that it would be appropriate to hold a referendum in Armenia regarding EU membership and relations with Russia, particularly within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Armenian officials have stated that while they are members of the EAEU, they will make decisions regarding Euro-integration at the appropriate time.
On June 1, Pashinyan reiterated that until Armenia officially applies for EU membership and achieves candidate status, holding a referendum on this matter would be illogical. He emphasized that the Armenian government would continue its engagement with the EAEU until a definitive choice between the two blocs becomes necessary.
On the same day, the European Commission expressed concerns that Russia might attempt to influence the results of the parliamentary elections in Armenia through hybrid pressure tactics and information manipulation. On June 4, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke with Pashinyan, offering support in light of the increasing Russian pressure on Armenia due to its alignment with the EU.
The Central Electoral Commission of Armenia has allowed the opposition bloc 'Strong Armenia' to participate in upcoming parliamentary elections, rejecting claims of voter bribery. This decision comes amid ongoing tensions between Armenia's pro-European government and Russian interests, highlighting the complex political landscape ahead of the elections.
Source: Radio Free Europe