Armenia parliamentary elections begin with 2.5 million eligible voters

Voting began on Sunday in Armenia's parliamentary elections, with approximately 2.5 million citizens eligible to cast their ballots for the 101-seat National Assembly, according to the Migration and Citizenship Service. A total of 2,005 polling stations have been established across the country, operating until 8 p.m. local time (1600 GMT), after which vote counting will commence.

Sixteen political parties and two political alliances are registered to participate in the election, including the ruling Civil Contract party led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The Civil Contract currently holds 69 seats following a snap parliamentary vote in 2018. Key opposition contenders include the Armenia Alliance, a political alliance led by former President Robert Kocharyan, and Strong Armenia, a newly founded party led by billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, who is currently under house arrest on charges of inciting a coup.

The election is seen as a test of Pashinyan's popularity after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, which ended with a ceasefire brokered by Russia. According to the Mehr News Agency, the vote will determine the composition of the next government and shape Armenia's political landscape.