Former Armenian FM claims opposition victory was 'stolen' in parliamentary vote

Former Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian alleged that the outcome of the June 7 parliamentary elections failed to reflect the genuine will of voters, asserting that widespread electoral fraud deprived the opposition of victory.

"Obviously, the June 7 parliamentary elections did not reflect the true will of the people," Oskanian wrote on Facebook on Friday. "I do not believe the incumbent government genuinely won the elections. In my view, the vote was rigged and the results were distorted."

He rejected the claims that neither the ruling Civil Contract party nor the opposition emerged victorious in the elections.

"The total vote amounts to 100%," he said. "If the incumbent authorities did not secure a legitimate majority, then those votes belong to the opposition as a whole. I believe its victory was simply stolen."

Oskanian alleged that electoral violations operated "like a saw," simultaneously suppressing opposition support while inflating the ruling party's vote share.

He also cited pre-election polling, claiming that nearly all domestic and international surveys before election day placed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's approval at approximately 35% to 40%.

"In my view, those figures are far closer to reality," Oskanian said. "The official results do not reflect the free expression of the people's will."

According to Oskanian, the government continues to rely on the country's law enforcement agencies in an effort to maintain its grip on power, creating a profound crisis of legitimacy.

He further argued that the disputed election results could have significant international ramifications, warning that foreign governments and international observers may conclude that Armenian voters voluntarily renewed the incumbent administration's mandate despite the country's recent military, political and national setbacks.

Such a perception, he said, risks damaging Armenia's international standing and misrepresenting the public's actual political sentiment. Oskanian argued that this consequence could prove as harmful as the existence of an illegitimate government.

He concluded by expressing hope that the situation would be resolved "through lawful and democratic means" in the near future.