Armenia’s top court upholds election result, rejecting opposition challenge

Saturday 04 July 2026 - 19:00

By: Sahili Aya

Armenia’s top court upholds election result, rejecting opposition challenge

Armenia’s constitutional court has rejected an appeal from a pro-Russian opposition alliance seeking to annul the results of the country’s June parliamentary election, confirming the re-election of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his ruling Civil Contract party.

The decision, reported by state media on Saturday, reinforces the outcome of a closely watched vote that has highlighted ongoing political divisions over Armenia’s geopolitical orientation.

Court confirms election outcome

The court ruled against the opposition Strong Armenia bloc, which had challenged the election results alleging irregularities during the voting process.

According to official results, Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party secured nearly 50% of the vote, maintaining its parliamentary majority.

The opposition alliance, which obtained around 23.3%, argued that procedural violations and pre-election arrests of candidates and supporters undermined the fairness of the vote.

Allegations of irregularities dismissed

Opposition figures had pointed to a series of arrests ahead of the election, claiming that these actions disproportionately targeted rival candidates and supporters.

However, while international election observers noted reports of vote-buying and other irregularities, they also stated that the voting process itself proceeded smoothly in most polling stations.

The constitutional court ultimately concluded that these concerns were insufficient to invalidate the results.

Political direction remains pro-Western

The outcome consolidates the position of Pashinyan’s government, which has pursued a more pro-Western foreign policy orientation in recent years, amid Armenia’s complex relations with Russia and regional security challenges.

The ruling is expected to deepen political debate within the country over its strategic direction, particularly as opposition groups continue to question the legitimacy of recent electoral processes.