Source: European Parliament
Armenia will hold parliamentary elections on 7 June 2026, in what is considered a highly consequential vote for the future of the South Caucasus republic and its geopolitical positioning. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in power since leading the pro-democracy Velvet Revolution in 2018 and validated twice in previous polls (2018 and 2021), has steered Armenia on a path of domestic modernisation and democratisation, as well as towards peaceful coexistence with its historical enemy, Azerbaijan. Since 2022, Pashinyan has accelerated its cautious but steady disentanglement from Russia and pursued a more pronounced pro-Western direction, in particular deepening its partnership with the EU.Pashinyan’s political party, Civil Contract, stands as the favourite in the opinion polls, albeit with decreasing support of around 30 %, which – if confirmed – will make it impossible to govern alone and press ahead with the constitutional changes necessary to culminate the peace agreement with Azerbaijan. The high number of undecided voters make predictions unreliable, and several scenarios are open, including an unlikely but possible second round of elections if no stable parliamentary majority emerges. The Armenian government, as well as domestic and international observers, have warned that Russia is conducting increasingly aggressive interference and manipulation campaigns, following its playbook with Moldova. In parallel, the Kremlin is overtly warning Armenia about the significant costs of pursuing a pro-European path, pointing to the numerous pressure points Russia still has in Armenia.The first-ever EU–Armenia summit was held in Yerevan on 5 May 2026. It reaffirmed both parties’ commitment to the EU–Armenia Strategic Agenda adopted in December 2025, significantly enlarging areas of cooperation and with an increased focus on security.The elections will be monitored closely by domestic and international observers, including a long‑term election observation mission from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) (hereafter ‘OSCE/ODIHR’), joined by a delegation of Members of the European Parliament.
Non-EU Europe and the North