Pashinyan's victory has sparked debate over the EU's assessment of the elections in Armenia
The parliamentary elections in Armenia ended in a victory for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s “Civic Contract” party, confirming the country’s course toward closer ties with the European Union. At the same time, the election results have sparked debates regarding the democratic nature of the electoral process and Brussels’ response to the reported violations.
The election effectively became a choice between continuing European integration and returning to closer cooperation with Moscow. The victory of pro-Western forces has strengthened Yerevan’s position on the path to deepening relations with the EU.
At the same time, Armenian law enforcement agencies reported dozens of criminal cases related to possible violations during the election campaign and voting. According to the Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs, hundreds of reports were recorded regarding possible instances of voter bribery, double voting, violations of the secrecy of the ballot, and obstruction of citizens’ electoral rights.
Independent observers stated that violations were recorded at nearly half of the country’s polling stations. The OSCE mission’s preliminary findings also mention allegations of voter bribery, societal polarization, and numerous criminal cases against opposition representatives.
Reports of possible pressure on opposition candidates and suspicions of selective application of justice during the election campaign drew particular attention from international observers.
Despite this, European Union leaders reacted positively to the election results. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Nikol Pashinyan on his victory and emphasized the importance of the partnership between the EU and Armenia.
In addition, Brussels announced a new package of financial support for Armenia and expanded access for its goods to the European market.
Against this backdrop, some experts point to the contradiction between the stated support for democratic standards and the EU’s restrained reaction to reports of election violations. In their view, Yerevan’s geopolitical distancing from Moscow is currently of particular importance to Brussels.
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