Following Armenia’s parliamentary vote, AnewZ spoke to people in Yerevan about the mood in the capital, relations with Azerbaijan and the country’s future.
YEREVAN, Armenia — In the days after Armenia’s parliamentary election, Yerevan offered no single mood.
On the surface, the city appeared calm. Streets were busy. Cafes were open. Tourists moved through the centre. Some residents described the atmosphere as warm, peaceful and hopeful.
But beneath that calm, the answers were more complicated.
AnewZ took to the streets of Yerevan to ask people how they felt after the vote — and where they thought Armenia was heading.
Some were optimistic.
“The mood is wonderful,” one woman said.
Another resident described Yerevan as a good place to live, saying he hoped tourism, public life and the city’s open atmosphere would continue.
Others were less certain.
One interviewee said the mood was “very tense”, adding that it was unclear what would happen after the elections. Another said some people were disappointed because their expectations had not been met.
The election has left Armenia with more than a result. It has left a question: what comes next?
For many people AnewZ spoke to, the answer began with peace.
Several interviewees said the new parliament’s first priority should be to protect stability, preserve peace and address security concerns. Some linked that directly to relations with Azerbaijan.
Views on Azerbaijan remained deeply mixed.
Some respondents said relations were still difficult and emotionally charged. Others spoke of the need to move forward.
“I have nothing against the citizens of Azerbaijan,” one man said. “I want peace.”
Another resident said neighbours could not remain enemies forever.
“We must somehow find common ground,” he said. “The wound remains, it heals, but there must be peace.”
That contrast ran through many of the interviews.
There was hope. But not blind hope.
There was caution. But not complete rejection.
The same divide appeared when people were asked about Armenia’s foreign policy direction.
Some said Armenia should move closer to Europe. Others argued that ties with Russia should not be damaged. Many rejected a simple choice between the two, saying Armenia should be guided first by its own national interests.
One resident said Armenia must cooperate with all countries, but always put “the interest of the Republic of Armenia” first.
Another said the country should develop relations with Europe while maintaining workable ties with Russia.
The answers reflected a country trying to balance memory, security and ambition.
Asked about the future, many people imagined a stronger Armenia — more developed, more secure and less dependent on old political divisions.
Some spoke of a democratic and modern country. Others focused on jobs, living standards and regional development beyond Yerevan.
One respondent said she wanted to see villages and other cities develop, so that life would not be concentrated only in the capital.
Another said Armenia should become “rich and independent”.
But there was also doubt. Some interviewees said the country needed new political figures and a break from familiar divisions before real change could happen.
The picture from Yerevan was not simple.
That is what made it important.
Post-election Armenia is not speaking in one voice. It is hopeful and cautious. It wants peace, but fears fragility. It looks towards Europe, but still weighs Russia. It wants change, but does not fully trust the path ahead.
AnewZ’s full vox-pop report from Yerevan premieres on Tuesday (16 June) at 22:30 AZT / 20:30 CET.
Read more:
The U.S. has launched fresh strikes on Iran after Tehran targeted a container ship and said it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also claime...
The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum will bring together nearly 160 media leaders, experts and officials from 54 countries in Azerbaijan's historic city...
Concerns are growing over a renewed cholera outbreak in Yemen, after years of conflict has left the country's healthcare system struggling to cope....
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the country is going through a “difficult period”, but has learned much from it, according to state news agency TASS.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million people for the next few years. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is hoping to fend off challenges from several pro-Russia candidates to secure a third term.
Armenia will hold parliamentary elections on 7 June 2026, a vote that will shape the country’s political direction for the next five years. Understanding how the electoral system converts votes into parliamentary power is key to following the outcome and its wider regional implications.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer suffered heavy early losses in local elections on 8 May 2026, as results pointed to significant voter backlash against his Labour government and renewed questions over his leadership just two years after a landslide general election win.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to resume talks with Iran after Tehran requested further negotiations, but declared that last month's ceasefire between the two countries was "over".
The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum will bring together nearly 160 media leaders, experts and officials from 54 countries in Azerbaijan's historic city of Shusha on 13-14 July, to discuss journalism’s role in peacebuilding, restoring public trust and tackling challenges.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has promised to avenge the killing of his father, while U.S. President Donald Trump said Tehran and Washington had agreed to continue talks despite an escalation of hostilities this week.
The U.S. has launched fresh strikes on Iran after Tehran targeted a container ship and said it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also claimed to have expanded attacks on U.S. military facilities across the Gulf.
Typhoon Bavi pummelled Japan's southern Sakishima island chain with heavy rain and violent winds on Saturday as it headed towards Taiwan, prompting authorities to warn of the risks of floods and landslides.
Qatar is mourning the death of its former ruler, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who has passed away at the age of 74.
This is the last of four articles in AnewZ's series examining how conservationists are working to protect and repair damage done to the Aral Sea which lies between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
At least 44 people have died and more than one million have been stranded due to widespread flooding and landslides across southeastern Bangladesh, authorities said on Saturday (11 July).
Turkish prosecutors have ordered the detention of 36 people, including the mayor of an Ankara district controlled by the main opposition, over alleged bribery and tender-rigging.
Temperatures above 40°C are scorching parts of Central Asia, prompting the World Health Organization to warn that extreme heat is becoming an increasing public health threat across the region.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment