Armenia goes to polls, with Russia and EU looking on

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Armenia held parliamentary elections on Sunday with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan seeking to consolidate power against a pro-Russia opposition that has gained traction since his 2020 military defeat by Azerbaijan. The vote reflects a historic geopolitical pivot: Pashinyan has shifted Armenia toward the EU and NATO while pursuing a peace deal with Azerbaijan, angering nationalist voters who see this as capitulation. Russia and the European Union both have stakes in the outcome, with Moscow backing opposition forces and Brussels supporting Pashinyan's westward turn. The election's result will shape whether Armenia continues its tentative reconciliation with Azerbaijan or returns to confrontation.