Armenians are heading to the polls in an election that could solidify the country’s move toward Europe and away from its traditional alliance with Russia.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party is the favorite going into the vote, ahead of three opposition candidates who support closer ties with Moscow. Pashinyan’s main rival, Samvel Karapetyan, a Russian-Armenian billionaire who made most of his money in Russia, has had to campaign from house arrest at his mansion outside Yerevan.
A lot is at stake for this South Caucasus nation of 3 million people, with Moscow, Brussels, and Washington all watching the election closely.
If Karapetyan wins, Armenia could follow a path similar to neighboring Georgia, where a billionaire with Russian-made wealth has spent years rolling back pro-Western reforms and pulling the country back toward Moscow.
A strong win for Pashinyan would give him the mandate to pursue his key and politically sensitive goal: a peace agreement with Armenia’s longtime enemy Azerbaijan and normalizing relations with Turkey.
Nikol Pashinyan after casting his ballot in Yerevan. Photograph: Karen Minasyan/AFP/Getty Images
A former journalist who came to power during the 2018 Velvet Revolution, Pashinyan has campaigned on a platform of peace. He argues that ending Armenia’s decades-long conflict with its neighbors would unlock economic opportunities, improve security, and reduce its reliance on Russia.
The prime minister, known for his populist and often emotional style, has sought closer ties with Europe. He has signaled that Armenia’s future lies in deeper integration with the West and expressed hope that the country could one day join the European Union.
Pashinyan has received an endorsement from Donald Trump, who called him “a great friend and leader.” The US has taken on an increasingly important role in efforts to broker a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Sunday’s vote is the first national election since Armenia lost Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan in 2023. That traumatic defeat ended more than three decades of Armenian control over the disputed region.
The opposition has tried to portray the loss as proof of Pashinyan’s failures, accusing him of surrendering historic Armenian lands to its enemies.
But Pashinyan has tried to turn the issue into a political advantage. He argues that Armenia’s focus on Karabakh trapped the country in endless conflict and dependence on Russia. He presents the painful chapter as a necessary starting point for a more secure and prosperous future.
Anahit Sarkisyan, a lawyer from Yerevan, said after voting on Sunday: “Pashinyan has a vision for the future, the rest are stuck in the past. We can’t be in endless wars with our neighbors. It’s time to move forward.”
Pashinyan’s course has put him in Moscow’s crosshairs. Russia has long projected influence over Armenian politics and the economy.
Samvel Karapetyan casts his ballot. Photograph: Hayk Baghdasaryan/Reuters
Many Armenians became disillusioned with Russia after Moscow failed to help them when Azerbaijan seized Nagorno-Karabakh, despite Russian peacekeepers being in the region. The fallout led Pashinyan to suspend Armenia’s participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a group of six post-Soviet states including Russia. This marked the most dramatic break in relations with Moscow since Armenia’s independence.
In the run-up to the election, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Armenia, which has not formally applied for EU membership, was heading down the same path as Ukraine.
“And where did it start?” Putin said, referring to Armenia’s EU push. “With Ukraine seeking to join the European Union.”
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Armenian officials and analysts haveRussia has been accused of trying to influence the election through disinformation campaigns that favored pro-Russian candidates, as well as efforts to fly Armenians living in Russia back home to vote against Pashinyan. In recent weeks, Moscow has taken a more direct approach, imposing a series of trade restrictions on items like flowers, fish, fruit, and Armenian brandy. However, these last-minute measures have so far failed to hurt Armenia’s economy.
Thanks to strong economic growth driven by an influx of Russian businesses and capital after the invasion of Ukraine, Pashinyan has invested heavily in Armenia’s regions, where his support remains strongest. Yet observers have also noted his increasingly personal style of politics and what critics describe as growing authoritarian tendencies in Armenia—a country that remains a rare democratic exception in a region mostly ruled by strongmen.
In the lead-up to the elections, Armenian authorities arrested opposition figures, including members of Karapetyan’s party, on charges ranging from vote-buying and financial crimes to calls for overthrowing the government. Karapetyan himself was detained in June and charged with calling for a seizure of power, forcing him to campaign from house arrest. Pashinyan has sometimes seemed erratic, engaging in ugly public disputes with refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh, whom he accused of having “run away” from the region instead of staying to fight.
The EU, meanwhile, has largely ignored criticism of Pashinyan and made no secret of its support for Armenia’s shift away from Moscow. This week, Brussels announced an initial €50 million support package to help Armenia withstand Russian economic pressure.
Karen Grigoryan, a doctor who voted for Karapetyan on Sunday, said: “Pashinyan is not the man he was when he came to power.” Referring to the Ottoman-era mass killings of Armenians, which Yerevan and many Western countries recognize as genocide, he added: “We can’t just be friendly with Turkey and pretend the past is erased.”
Observers say many voters continue to back Pashinyan largely because the opposition remains deeply discredited and closely tied to Russia. Tatul Hakobyan, a popular Armenian commentator, said: “People are choosing the lesser of two evils. The alternatives to Pashinyan are much worse.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the Armenian election and the phrase Its time to move forward written in a natural tone
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What does Its time to move forward mean in this context
It means the country wants to leave behind past conflicts corruption or political instability and focus on building a better future with new leadership and policies
2 Why is this election in Armenia so important
Because it will decide whether Armenia continues its current path toward closer ties with the West or leans back toward Russia It also affects the peace process with neighboring Azerbaijan
3 Who is the main person saying Its time to move forward
Usually this phrase is used by the current government or proreform candidates like Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to argue that they need a fresh mandate to complete their reforms
4 Why does Russia care about this election
Russia sees Armenia as a key ally in the region It wants to keep Armenia in its sphere of influence especially through military bases and economic partnerships A win for proWestern parties could weaken Russias power
5 Why does the European Union care
The EU wants to expand its influence and support democratic reforms in countries near its borders It also wants to reduce Russian dominance in the region and secure access to energy and trade routes
Advanced Practical Questions
6 What specific problems is Armenia trying to move forward from
Primarily the 2020 NagornoKarabakh war defeat economic stagnation high unemployment corruption in the judiciary and a tense relationship with Russia over security guarantees
7 How could the election results actually change Armenias foreign policy
If proWestern parties win Armenia could pause its membership in the Russialed Collective Security Treaty Organization and deepen ties with the EU and NATO If proRussian parties win it would likely rejoin Russian military and economic alliances
8 What is the biggest risk if the election is not considered free and fair
The biggest risk is that the losing side might not accept the results This could lead to street protests a political crisis or even Russian accusations of a rigged election potentially triggering sanctions or interference
