Armenian opposition alliance questions election results, cites pressure and irregularities

The opposition Strong Armenia alliance on Monday said it is assessing the results of the country’s parliamentary elections, alleging that the vote was conducted amid widespread pressure on its members and numerous electoral irregularities.

In a statement released by its spokesperson Marianna Ghahramanyan, the bloc said the election campaign unfolded under unprecedented pressure from the authorities, including actions targeting its leader, candidates, supporters and campaign staff.

The alliance alleged that members of its team were subjected to unlawful detentions and criminal proceedings intended to hinder political competition and influence voters’ ability to make a free choice at the ballot box.

It also claimed that state and municipal resources were deployed on election day in an effort to shape the outcome of Sunday’s parliamentary vote. Reports of alleged electoral violations were received from across the country throughout the day, the alliance said.

“The election process and its outcome could not have remained unaffected by these developments,” the statement said.

The alliance also criticized Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for declaring victory and announcing plans to form a government before the Central Electoral Commission had completed tabulating results from all polling stations.

It argued that the announcement amounted to a signal to election authorities and said the official figures released so far cannot be viewed as fully reflecting the will of voters without a comprehensive review and legal assessment.

The alliance said its central campaign headquarters is conducting an analysis of the election and examining information from polling stations to establish a more accurate picture of voter intent.

Strong Armenia will present its conclusions and outline any future actions once that review is complete.