Parliamentary elections have begun in Armenia.

Parliamentary elections began in Armenia on June 7. The results of these elections could determine the country’s future political course and the level of trust in Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government.

The Armenian service of Radio Liberty reports this.

According to the Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs, approximately 2.49 million citizens are eligible to vote. Voters are choosing representatives from 18 political parties at polling stations across the country. Voting will last until 8:00 PM, and approximately 400 international observers are monitoring the proceedings.

According to recent opinion polls, the Civil Contract party, led by Pashinyan, enjoys the highest support, with ratings estimated at between 24% and 32%. The pro-Russian political force, Strong Armenia, ranks second, with support between 6% and 11%.

One of the key themes of the election campaign was Armenia’s relations with Russia and its Western partners. Since coming to power as a result of the Velvet Revolution, Pashinyan has consistently promoted rapprochement with the European Union and the United States, while also supporting peace dialogue with Azerbaijan.

At the same time, Yerevan suspended its participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which led to tensions in relations with Moscow. Russia has also recently imposed restrictions on some Armenian exports and criticized the country’s European policies.

Armenia’s accession to the TRIPP initiative, which Washington views as a tool for strengthening stability in the South Caucasus, has attracted additional attention.

The Central Electoral Commission of Armenia plans to release preliminary voting results within 24 hours of the polling stations closing, with official election results expected to be announced on June 14.