Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party has won the Armenian elections, picking up nearly half the vote. With a majority in parliament, Pashinyan is set for a third term as Prime Minister. But an opposition politican has said he will challenge the election results.
Thanks and goodbye.
Arsen Kharatyan, founder of Aliq Media, talked to AnewZ's Guy Shone on Primetime about how things could play out if there was a recount of the Armenian election results.
The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, has said the elections demonstrated Armenia's "democratic resilience," despite "unprecedented interference," from Russia.
Kallas, the EU's top diplomat said Moscow had used "hybrid attacks" and "economic coercion" to try to "undermine the democratic process and and incite polarisation," during the campaign.
"We call on all political actors to respect the outcome of the vote, democratic procedures and make use of legal mechanisms to address any electoral complaints," she added.
Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, has told Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan that the European Union (EU) will continue to deepen its partnership with Yerevan in a phone call following Pashinyan's victory.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office of Armenia, Costa congratulated Pashinyan on the outcome of the elections and said people in the country had voted for peace, stability and a future based on closer cooperation with countries internationally.
Costa added that the EU would expand cooperation with Armenia in the fields of energy, trade, and digitalisation.
“We are currently discussing our next steps with our colleagues from the opposition camp. One thing can be said with certainty: we will not retreat, nor will we abandon our trench of struggle.”
In a statement, the leader of the Armenia Alliance political bloc, Robert Kocharyan noted that, once consultations are completed, the public will be informed of the opposition’s approach to the next steps.
Kocharyan also claimed that the elections took place under conditions of what he described as total pressure from the authorities, the arrest of opposition figures and the unprecedented use of administrative resources.
Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan said the country is entering a “new chapter of political development” following the 7 June parliamentary elections, describing the vote as a test of Armenia’s democratic institutions and political maturity.
In a statement issued by his office, Khachaturyan thanked voters, election officials, observers and media representatives, saying the results reflected the free will of citizens and form the basis of state legitimacy.
The president congratulated Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party on its preliminary election victory, describing the result as both a public assessment of its previous performance and a mandate to implement its programme..
He also congratulated opposition forces that won seats in parliament, stressing that the National Assembly should serve as a platform for dialogue, political culture and state-minded decision-making.
European leaders have congratulated Armenia following the parliamentary elections, highlighting strong voter turnout and democratic participation.
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen praised the Armenian people for successful elections and noted record-high voter turnout. Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot described the vote as an example of strong democratic engagement.
Separately, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez both congratulated Pashinyan on his party’s projected victory, underscoring broad European support for the election outcome.
Russia has commented on Armenia’s parliamentary elections after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party secured a majority, with officials in Moscow offering mixed reactions to the outcome.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, cited by TASS, said Russia is awaiting final results but is also taking note of reports of alleged violations during the vote, despite international observers describing the election as largely calm and fair.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the ruling party had not secured a “monopoly on power” and suggested its support had declined compared to previous elections.
She also described arrests linked to alleged vote-buying as “repression,” while stressing that Russia remains interested in a “strong and sovereign Armenia” and will shape its policy based on the Armenian leadership’s actions.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan following the victory of the Civil Contract Party in Armenia’s parliamentary elections.
In a post on X, Tusk shared a selfie from a previous meeting with Pashinyan and said Armenia had “chosen continuity” and confirmed its “pro-European direction.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has congratulated the people of Armenia on the 7 June parliamentary elections, saying the vote demonstrated that “only Armenians will decide” their country’s future.
In a post on X, Sybiha extended congratulations to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his Civil Contract party, which secured a parliamentary majority with 49.825% of the vote, according to preliminary results.
Political analyst Eldar Hamzali, speaking to AnewZ from Baku, said Armenia’s parliamentary election marked a turning point in the country’s political trajectory, reflecting both a domestic mandate for continuity and a complex geopolitical balancing act.
He noted that the vote was significant as it was the first non-snap election in years and came after Armenia’s declared shift away from the Garabagh conflict framework.
“It’s the first election in the last eight years, because since 2018 they have always organised snap elections,” Hamzali said. “This one was very important because Armenia clearly declared that the Garabagh conflict is over for Armenia.”
On Armenia’s foreign policy direction, he said the country is attempting to reduce dependence on Russia while gradually moving closer to Europe and the West, though economic realities limit how fast that shift can happen.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the electoral success of his Civil Contract party.
In a post on X, Zelenskyy also praised Armenia for holding what he described as democratic and free elections.
Meanwhile, Moldovan President Maia Sandu also extended congratulations to Pashinyan following preliminary results indicating that Civil Contract is set to retain a parliamentary majority.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos has announced plans to visit Armenia in the near future, reaffirming the EU’s support for the country.
She made the remarks on X, stating: “I will come to Armenia as soon as possible- Europe’s solidarity with Armenia stands.”
She also announced the launch of a new EU- Armenia joint working group aimed at strengthening cooperation and further developing relations between Yerevan and Brussels.
Armenia’s opposition has already questioned aspects of the vote count and criticised Pashinyan’s early declaration of victory.
However, speaking to AnewZ's Daybreak program, Vasif Huseynov, Head of Department at the AIR Centre, believes efforts to challenge the outcome are unlikely to significantly alter the political landscape.
“The reality is that Pashinyan’s peace agenda is very much supported by a significant part of the population,” he said.
The analyst also expects the Armenian government to prioritise several major objectives, including advancing peace talks with Azerbaijan, normalising relations with Türkiye and accelerating European integration.
The Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission Vahagn Hovakimyan has announced the updated preliminary results of the vote count in the 7 June parliamentary elections held in Armenia.
The results from all 2,005 polling stations have been tallied, with a turnout of 1,477,736 (nearly 59 percent).
After 100% of votes were counted, Armenia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) Chairman Vaagn Hovakimyan announced that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party secured 49.825% of the vote, according to Armenian media cited by Report.az.
The Strong Armenia party, led by Samvel Karapetyan’s Tashir Group, came in second with 23.281%, while the Armenia bloc of former President Robert Kocharyan received 9.934%. The Prosperous Armenia party, headed by businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, gained 3.996%.
Hovakimyan said these figures represent updated preliminary results and noted that political forces are allowed to request a recount on 8-9 June.
European leaders have reacted positively to the outcome of Armenia’s parliamentary elections, offering congratulations to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and signalling support for the country’s continued engagement with Europe.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas praised Armenian voters for choosing what she described as a European future despite facing significant pressure from Russia.
President of the European Council António Costa also congratulated Pashinyan after his ruling Civil Contract party was declared the winner of the vote.
Messages of support also came from French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna.
In a post on X, Macron welcomed the result, writing: “My warmest congratulations, dear Nikol Pashinyan, on this landslide victory in the parliamentary elections.”
Armenia intends to institutionalise a peace treaty with Azerbaijan in the near future. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced this today at a meeting of the Armenian parliamentary commission.
"We will work in this direction," Pashinyan said.
He also noted that the TRIPP ratification process should begin in the near future.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs has congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the election victory of his Civil Contract party.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan congratulated citizens on the outcome of the parliamentary elections, stating that the public had chosen peace and defended the country’s future. He delivered the remarks in parliament during a joint committee session on his government’s 2025 budget report.
He referred to the Strong Armenia bloc, Armenia bloc, and Prosperous Armenia Party as the “tripartite war party,” saying they had been “crushed,” although preliminary results indicate that all three will still be represented in parliament.
“I want first of all to congratulate the people of the Republic of Armenia on winning as a result of the elections held on 7 June, 2026. By their vote, the people of Armenia upheld the state, stood up for independence, for the future, for peace, and for the Republic of Armenia itself."
The official final outcome is still pending.
18 people were arrested in connection with alleged electoral violations, authorities said on Monday.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that, as of 10:00 a.m. on 8 June, a total of 619 calls had been received via its hotline and the 112 emergency number, including both information requests and reports requiring verification.
Authorities recorded multiple alleged incidents, including cases of double voting, ballot secrecy violations, obstruction of voting rights, vote-buying, interference in the electoral process, as well as isolated reports of weapons possession at a polling station, hooliganism, and physical assault.
In total, 322 reports are still under review, while relevant documentation has been forwarded to investigative bodies.
The Central Election Commission of Armenia has completed the count of votes from all 2,005 polling stations, according to Armenian media.
The main competing political forces received the following share of the vote:
▪️ Civil Contract Party- 49.825%
▪️ Strong Armenia Alliance- 23.281%
▪️ Armenia Alliance- 9.934%
▪️ Prosperous Armenia Party- 3.996%
Based on preliminary calculations, Civil Contract is expected to secure 64 mandates, the Strong Armenia Alliance 29 mandates, and the Armenia Alliance 12 mandates.
As a result, Civil Contract will be able to form a government on its own, but it will not have a constitutional majority required to initiate a constitutional referendum.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his early election win, according to the Akorda press service.
Tokayev said preliminary assessments by international observers indicated that the elections were conducted openly and in line with Armenia’s electoral legislation, allowing citizens to freely express their will.
He wished Pashinyan success in advancing Armenia’s long-term national interests and reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s readiness to continue active cooperation across various fields.
According to early vote-count results from 1,354 of 2,005 polling stations (864,643 ballots), Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party is leading Armenia’s parliamentary elections.
Civil Contract has won 434,562 votes (50.83%), followed by Samvel Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia bloc with 201,006 votes (23.51%).
Former President Robert Kocharyan’s Armenia Alliance is in third place with 80,937 votes (9.47%).
Following the announcement of preliminary parliamentary election results, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivered a statement reaffirming Yerevan’s commitment to peace, regional cooperation.
He said Armenia’s position regarding Türkiye and Azerbaijan remains unchanged, stressing that the Armenian people support peace, regional prosperity, and cooperation, and expressing hope that this stance will be viewed positively by both countries.
The prime minister noted that one of Armenia’s key priorities is strengthening the peace process with Azerbaijan at an institutional level.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his early election win, praising continued cooperation and the strengthening of bilateral ties between Georgia and Armenia.
According to the Central Electoral Commission, 1,224,957 out of 2,503,976 eligible voters participated, with turnout at 48.92%.
Authorities also reported the use of around 4,000 electronic voter registration devices and CCTV coverage at 1,758 polling stations, alongside accessibility measures for voters with limited mobility.
The vote was monitored by local and international observation missions, diplomatic representatives, and foreign electoral bodies.
The Investigative Committee of Armenia has initiated 59 criminal proceedings into electoral crimes, 43 of which are in regional investigative units and 16 in Yerevan investigative units.
An additional 30 cases were opened under Article 214 for alleged multiple voting or voting on behalf of another person, while 17 cases were initiated under Article 215 for violations of ballot secrecy.
In a press conference in the early hours of Monday morning, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said his Civil Contract party had prevailed, calling it a "historic victory".
Armenia's election commission had released early results from about 21% of polling stations by the time Pashinyan gave his press conference.
The preliminary data, from about 16% of Armenia's polling stations, showed the pro-Russian Strong Armenia alliance in second place, with about 22% of the votes.
The Armenia Alliance was in third place with 8.8%, and the Prosperous Armenia party was trailing in fourth with roughly 5%.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared victory overnight when results were still coming in but preliminary results showed his party with around 54% of the vote.
Turnout in the South Caucasus country of 3 million was strong at nearly 59% of eligible voters. The Central Election Commission is expected to announce official preliminary voting results on Monday.
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Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry says 19 citizens have been repatriated following a deadly drone attack on two cargo ships in the Sea of Azov on 5 June.
The Pakistani city of Karachi is struggling under severe heat and humidity as the country enters a prolonged heatwave period. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of above-normal temperatures across much of the country between 7 and 12 June.
Ukraine's military said it struck a Russian "shadow fleet" tanker in the Black Sea as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Moscow's energy and logistics networks. The move underscores Kyiv's focus on targeting maritime assets it says are used to bypass sanctions on Russian oil exports.
U.S. forces say they have completed strikes on Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with missile attacks on an American base in Jordan, marking a sharp escalation in tensions between the two sides.
Russia has once again offered warm words to Tbilisi, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova praising Georgia's efforts to safeguard its sovereignty and saying Moscow is ready to deepen ties.
Azerbaijan dispatched 17 railway wagons carrying 984 tonnes of diesel fuel to Armenia on Thursday, marking the latest shipment in growing trade between the two countries.
The U.S. is deepening engagement with Central Asia on critical minerals as global competition for strategic resources intensifies. The issue dominated talks in Astana between Washington and the five Central Asian states.
Israel's cabinet is expected to approve a plan on Thursday (11 June) to allocate around one billion shekels ($338 million) for settlement development in the West Bank, according to reports and anti-settlement campaigners.
India is expected to receive below-average rainfall over the next two weeks, particularly across central and northern regions, as weather systems known as western disturbances slow the advance of the annual monsoon, senior weather officials said.
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