Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared victory on Monday in a parliamentary election that is expected to cement the country's pro-European trajectory, despite growing tensions with Russia. Early results showed Pashinyan's ruling Civil Contract party leading with 52.5% of the vote, based on 23.5% of precincts reporting.

The pro-Russia Strong Armenia alliance, led by Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, trailed with 23.2%. Former President Robert Kocharyan's Armenia alliance secured 9%, while the Prosperous Armenia Party cleared the threshold with 4.6%. Turnout was reported at 59%.

Pashinyan called the result a 'historic victory' at a press conference early Monday. Official preliminary results are expected later in the day. The election is seen as a referendum on Pashinyan's peace efforts with Azerbaijan, following Armenia's defeat in the 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh war.

Critics accuse Pashinyan of making excessive concessions to Azerbaijan in a US-brokered agreement signed last August. He has also faced allegations of authoritarianism, with many opponents jailed in recent years. The government claims those imprisoned were involved in coup attempts.

Russia, Armenia's former Soviet master, has reacted angrily to Yerevan's rapprochement with the West. President Vladimir Putin last month made veiled threats about economic consequences, and Russia has imposed new restrictions on Armenian flower and vegetable imports. Putin also suggested Armenia could face a crisis similar to Ukraine's.

The European Union has pushed back, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accusing Moscow of 'weaponizing economic relations for political pressure.' The EU pledged €50 million in aid and relaxed trade conditions for goods targeted by Russia. Police reported detaining over 10 people for vote-buying on election day.

Source: www.dw.com