Armenians vote in parliamentary elections seen as ‘referendum on independence’

Article excerpt

Armenians voted Sunday in parliamentary elections widely framed as a referendum on the country's geopolitical future. The incumbent government, under pressure from Russia, is pushing to loosen Moscow's grip and strengthen Western ties, a shift that has prompted aggressive rhetoric from neighboring countries. Voters described the election as existential, with the outcome potentially reshaping Armenia's alignment between Russia and the West at a moment of regional tension.