Armenia goes to polls, with Russia and EU looking on
Key takeaways
- Armenians are voting in elections that pit pro-EU Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan against the pro-Russia opposition.
- Polls have shown Pashinyan and his party well in the lead with up to 32% support, compared with just 11% for Strong Armenia.
- This seems to indicate some endorsement of Pashinyan's efforts to move Armenia closer to the West since he came to power in 2018, although he will not be able to govern alone if the poll results are confirmed.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Armenians are voting in elections that pit pro-EU Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan against the pro-Russia opposition. Peace efforts with longtime foe Azerbaijan are also a main election issue.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Ex WRArmenian voters are choosing between the European Union and Russia Image: Vahram Baghdasaryan/Photolure/REUTERSAdvertisement Armenians began voting on Sunday in a parliamentary election that seems likely to bolster the country's pro-EU trajectory, despite Russia's anger at the course the government has taken.
The ruling Civil Contract party of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has the pro-Russia Strong Armenia party as its closest rival in the election, which is also seen as a referendum on Pashinyan's peace efforts with Azerbaijan.