Armenia’s pro-Russian opposition may now hold the key to Pashinyan’s peace deal with Baku

He won — with a caveat.

Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party took 49.8% of the vote, enough to secure a parliamentary majority and form a government without coalition partners, but short of the supermajority needed to call a referendum on constitutional amendments.

Pashinyan needs that referendum to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan: Baku is demanding that Yerevan strip its Constitution of all references to reunification with Nagorno-Karabakh.

At 65% or above, Civil Contract could have called the vote unilaterally.

Instead, the party will have to court allies among Armenia’s pro-Russian opposition that has no interest in holding such a vote. ...