Armenia's parliamentary election a vote on nation's 'geopolitical future'
AI Summary
Armenia held parliamentary elections on Sunday as a geopolitical referendum, with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan—leading in polls—seeking to strengthen ties with the European Union and United States while loosening Armenia's traditional dependence on Russia. Russia responded by applying economic coercion, including boycotts of Armenian goods and threats of gas cutoffs, to maintain its influence over the former Soviet republic.
Armenians voted on Sunday in a parliamentary election seen as a test of the government's efforts to forge a peace deal following a crushing military defeat by Azerbaijan three years ago.
"This is really a vote on the geopolitical future of Armenia and its ties with Russia," FRANCE 24's Philip Turle said in an analysis.
He pointed to Armenia's shift away from Russia, a trend that dates back to its defeat by Azerbaijan and was accelerated by the war in Ukraine, which has diverted Russia's attention elsewhere. ...