After Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenians vote for peace over nationalism
Key takeaways
- Nikol Pashinyan’s victory suggests Russia’s influence in the country is waning.
- Flanked by supporters waving their arms and flashing his campaign’s signature heart-shaped hand gesture, Pashinyan was perched centre stage, pounding away on a drum kit for the crowds – literally drumming up support.
- Pashinyan, who formed a band earlier this year and campaigned with a series of concerts around the country, secured 49.8 percent of the vote in Sunday’s ballot, enough to retain a parliamentary majority.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Nikol Pashinyan’s victory suggests Russia’s influence in the country is waning.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Supporters of Armenia's ruling Civil Contract party, led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, react as they gather in Republic Square in Yerevan, Armenia [Anthony Pizzoferrato/AP]By Urooba Jamal Published On 9 Jun 20269 Jun 2026At a campaign rally in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, on Saturday, one day before Armenia’s election, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, outfitted in a white button-up shirt and a red-brimmed baseball cap, held a look of determination.
Flanked by supporters waving their arms and flashing his campaign’s signature heart-shaped hand gesture, Pashinyan was perched centre stage, pounding away on a drum kit for the crowds – literally drumming up support.