Armenian opposition files petition to annul election results, citing irregularities

A pro-Russian opposition alliance has formally requested Armenia's election commission to nullify the results of the parliamentary election held on June 7. The vote saw Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party secure a decisive victory.

Aram Vardevanyan, a member of the Strong Armenia party, announced the submission of the petition in the capital, Yerevan. Opposition groups have raised allegations of voting irregularities, prompting the challenge. Strong Armenia, which ran on a pro-business platform and pledged to maintain close ties with Russia, garnered 23.2% of the votes.

Pashinyan's Civil Contract party, which has strengthened relations with Western countries since coming to power in 2018, achieved 49.8% of the vote, fending off challenges from predominantly pro-Russian opposition factions. The Central Election Commission is scheduled to announce the final results on Sunday.

Earlier, the commission invalidated the tallies at two polling stations due to a concentration of military personnel present after polls closed, according to Armenian media. This decision affected the vote share of another opposition party, Prosperous Armenia, pushing them below the 4% threshold required for parliamentary representation. Opposition groups also reported a series of arrests targeting their candidates and supporters prior to the election.

International election observers noted allegations of vote-buying and other violations but stated that voting proceeded smoothly in most locations. The situation remains tense as the final results are pending and the opposition seeks to challenge the outcome.

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The petition was submitted by Strong Armenia, party member Aram Vardevanyan told reporters in the capital Yerevan, after opposition groups alleged there had been voting irregularities.