Armenia opposition leader accuses authorities of vote manipulation

Edmon Marukyan, the leader of the opposition Bright Armenia Party, accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government of manipulating vote counts in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, alleging that official tallies erased ballots cast for his party.

In a video posted on social media on Tuesday, Marukyan presented precinct records from Gegharkunik Province showing Bright Armenia received between one and six votes, while the Central EElectoral ommission (CEC) reported zero. “Nikol entered 0 votes. Why do I say Nikol? Because the system belongs to the authorities,” Marukyan said.

He claimed similar discrepancies occurred at about 2,000 polling stations nationwide, arguing the omissions were intended to keep Bright Armenia below the 2% threshold required for state funding. Under Armenian law, parties surpassing 2% of the vote — or alliances surpassing 4% — are reimbursed their election deposit and receive annual state financing until the next parliamentary elections.

“This system has become an instrument of electoral fraud,” Marukyan said. “They've falsified the election, and everyone must answer for it — personally, you too, Nikol. I am showing the evidence in my hands.”