Armenian opposition figure rejects election results, accuses government of authoritarian drift

Armenian political analyst and Democratic Alternative Party chairman Suren Surenyants has accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party of using legal and political means to consolidate power following recent parliamentary elections, while a group of opposition parties has rejected the official results.

In a statement released on Monday, six opposition political forces said the official election results announced after the June 7 parliamentary vote do not reflect the will of the Armenian people and questioned the legitimacy of the government. The parties included the Strong Armenia alliance, the Armenia alliance, Prosperous Armenia, Bright Armenia, the Armenian National Congress and the National Democratic Pole.

The opposition groups said they intend to coordinate their efforts as a unified front against Pashinyan's government and called for a review of the election results. They stated that irregularities affected the outcome of the vote.

Surenyants argued that the ruling party's political dominance could enable it to pass legislation without meaningful parliamentary opposition. He specifically criticized the exclusion of Prosperous Armenia from parliament, describing it as a strategic objective of the ruling party.

The opposition statement also accused the government of pursuing policies favored by Western countries and making concessions to Azerbaijan and Turkey. Among the concerns raised were the future of Armenia's relations with Russia, negotiations with Turkey, and the status of issues related to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). The government has repeatedly rejected accusations that it is acting against Armenia's national interests.

Surenyants further claimed that Western governments and international institutions have accepted the election results despite opposition objections.

The opposition parties said they would continue to act within the framework of Armenia's constitution, national laws and democratic principles while defending citizens' right to free political expression.

According to Surenyants, opposition leaders are seeking to avoid actions that could expose them to accusations of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order. He also alleged that the authorities could seek to weaken opposition forces through legal pressure and arrests.