Armenia Pivots to Europe as Pashinyan's Pro-West Party Wins Landmark Election, Defying Moscow

Yerevan, Armenia – Armenia's ruling pro-Europe party has won parliamentary elections, confirming the country's dramatic pivot towards Europe and away from its traditional ally, Russia, in a result that will be welcomed in Brussels but viewed with dismay in Moscow.

Final results in the small South Caucasus country showed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party securing a slim majority, while the Strong Armenia alliance, led by Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, won 25% of the seats in parliament.

'Peace, Regional Prosperity and Regional Cooperation'

"The people of Armenia voted for peace, regional prosperity and regional cooperation, and I hope this will be met with a positive response from Turkey and Azerbaijan," Pashinyan said at his campaign headquarters as results began to trickle in.

The former journalist who swept to power during the 2018 Velvet Revolution added that Armenia would continue to deepen ties with the west while maintaining its membership of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union.

Pashinyan has campaigned on a platform of peace, arguing that ending the country's decades-long confrontation with its neighbors would unlock economic opportunities, improve security and reduce its dependence on Russia.

European Leaders Congratulate Pashinyan

In a message on X, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed his victory as evidence of "a democratic Armenia" that was "drawing ever closer to Europe." She added: "Armenia can count on us."

Pashinyan had also received an endorsement from Donald Trump, who described him as "a great friend and leader." The US has taken an increasingly prominent role in efforts to broker a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Karabakh Loss Shapes Election

Sunday's vote is the first national election since Armenia's loss of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan in 2023, a traumatic defeat that ended more than three decades of Armenian control over the disputed region.

The opposition has sought to portray the loss as evidence of Pashinyan's failures, accusing him of surrendering historical Armenian lands to its enemies. But Pashinyan has tried to turn the issue into a political asset, arguing that Armenia's pursuit of Karabakh helped trap the country in perpetual conflict and dependence on Russia.

Yet difficulties remain for Pashinyan, who failed to secure the supermajority needed to call a referendum on amending the constitution, including removing references that Azerbaijan says imply territorial claims to Nagorno-Karabakh – a crucial condition for signing a final peace agreement.

Armenians 'Tired of War'

Lilit Mkrtchyan, a shopkeeper from the capital, Yerevan, said Pashinyan's victory would bring "peace and stability to Armenia."

"Armenians are tired of war. We want to be an open, European country that develops and prospers, where I don't have to worry that my son will be called up to fight," she added.

Many Armenians became disillusioned with Russia after Moscow failed to come to their aid when Azerbaijan seized Nagorno-Karabakh, despite the presence of Russian peacekeepers in the region.

The fallout prompted Pashinyan to suspend Armenia's participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization of six post-Soviet states, including Russia, marking the most dramatic rupture in relations with Moscow since the country's independence.

Moscow's Warnings and Trade Restrictions

In the run-up to the election, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Armenia, which has not formally applied for EU membership, was heading down the same path as Ukraine.

Armenian officials and analysts have accused Russia of attempting to influence the election through disinformation campaigns in favor of pro-Russian candidates, and efforts to fly Armenians living in Russia back home to vote against Pashinyan.

In recent weeks, Moscow has adopted a more overt approach, imposing a series of trade restrictions affecting everything from flowers and fish to fruit and Armenian brandy.

Mindful of Armenia's deep economic dependence on Russia and its reliance on cheap Russian gas, Pashinyan promised after the vote to pursue a balanced foreign policy, saying there was "no question of choosing" between Russia and the west.

EU Support Package Announced

The EU, meanwhile, has largely brushed aside criticism of Pashinyan, making little secret of its support for Armenia's shift away from Moscow. This week, Brussels announced an initial €50 million (£43 million) support package to help Armenia withstand Russian economic pressure.

Observers say many voters backed Pashinyan largely because the opposition remained widely discredited and closely linked to Russia. Tatul Hakobyan, a popular Armenian commentator, said: "People are choosing the lesser of two evils. The alternatives to Pashinyan are much worse."