Widespread Allegations Mar Armenian Parliamentary Elections
Yerevan, Armenia – June 7, 2026 – Parliamentary elections held in Armenia on June 7, 2026, were characterized by a significant number of reported violations and irregularities across various polling stations. Reports from media outlets and observer missions detailed incidents ranging from voter coercion and attempts at double voting to ballot stuffing and obstruction of observers.
Incidents Reported Throughout Election Day
As of 8:00 PM on election day, numerous alleged infractions had been documented. At polling station 33/17, an individual reportedly attempted to vote twice. In Ashtarak, at polling station 17/11, elderly voters requiring assistance were allegedly allowed to cast their ballots only in the presence of a Civil Contract Party (CCP) representative, who unlawfully interfered with the voting process. Polling station 7/42 saw a mother and daughter casting ballots together in a single voting booth. Additionally, at Ajapnyak 6/51, a voter allegedly attempted to remove an unmarked ballot from the polling station.
Earlier in the day, at 7:00 PM, a queue was observed near polling station 9/16. A campaign poster for the Civil Contract Party was reportedly displayed near polling station 19/27, and Gurgen Hakobyan, the chief architect of Hrazdan, was seen monitoring activity near polling station 26/11 from his car.
By 6:00 PM, reports included a CCP member entering a voting booth at Shengavit 8/49 and directing an elderly woman to vote for the CCP. In Armavir region, at polling station 16/25, international observers from the CIS mission were allegedly prevented from leaving the station and pressured to tear up their completed observation sheets. Approximately 10-15 individuals without badges reportedly gathered around the observers, engaging in arguments and shouting. Police allegedly refused to intervene. Cases of repeat voting were recorded at Ajapnyak 6/6, and at a polling station in Lori, a CCP communal services chief and his wife were accused of taking ballots in a bag.
At 5:00 PM, the head of the administrative district in Teghut village was reportedly present at polling station 38/11 for an extended period, while CCP proxies allegedly directed voters. At polling station 22/34 in Gargar, Lori, an employee of the Electric Networks of Armenia was accused of directing voters, leading to a protocol being drawn up. At station 11/36, a visually impaired woman was allegedly directed to vote by placing the 16th ballot on top of the stack. Multiple voters were also reported in a single voting booth at polling station 14/15.
Continued Irregularities Throughout the Day
At 4:00 PM, a voter at polling station 9/60 found that someone had already signed in their name, prompting the commission to draw up a protocol. Voting was interrupted for approximately 40 minutes at a polling station in Yerevan Center (9/51) due to technical issues, with some individuals reportedly leaving without voting. This was reported by “Independent Observer.”
By 3:00 PM, CCP members in Alaverdi (polling station 24/11) were accused of urging voters they had directed to remove unused ballots from the polling station as proof of voting for the CCP. In Gegharkunik region, at polling station 21/5, people were reportedly voting in groups, monitoring each other’s ballots. Sarik Minasyan, a CCP parliamentary candidate, was observed conversing with citizens at polling station 31/09 despite not being a voter there. Gnel Sanosyan, another CCP member, was reportedly present at polling station 19/36 for a long time, directing voters. At Gyumri 31/33, voting was visible to everyone from within the voting booths. Polling stations 21/54 and 21/56 in Gegharkunik were reportedly set up but empty of voters, according to ArmLur.am.
At 2:00 PM, instances of ballots being brought into and taken out of polling stations were reported by the “Armenia” alliance. A citizen at Arabkir 4/23 allegedly tried to remove an unmarked ballot. Further cases of CCP campaign materials at polling stations were reported at 8/29 and 9/2. In Noyemberyan, Tavush region, citizens were reportedly voting in pairs at polling station 37/3. A queue of people was observed at 54th kindergarten in Avan administrative district of Yerevan, a sight not seen in the previous three elections. At Goris 34/60, the CCP secretary of the commission allegedly refused to record violations.
At 1:00 PM, a proxy for the “Strong Armenia” alliance was denied entry to Artik penitentiary, with officials citing a lack of information from the CEC. In Arevashogh village, Spitak, a group of CCP members allegedly entered a polling station and interfered with voting by directing citizens in the voting booth. At 8/32, a voter removed ballot number 16 from an envelope and displayed it, which the commission recognized as valid. In Gyulagarak, Lori region (polling station 22/32), observers reported obstruction and pressure, with a party proxy allegedly directing voters. When the observer raised the issue, the proxy reportedly tried to pressure the observer and threatened to have them removed. At polling station 7/6, the commission chairman allegedly refused to record the observer’s assessment of a breach of voting secrecy. These incidents were reported by the “Akanates” observation mission.
Early Morning Violations
By 12:00 PM, unmarked ballots were found scattered at polling station 8/10. In Goris, at polling station 34/12, a CCP proxy was reportedly directing citizens both inside and outside the station. A CCP campaign poster was displayed in front of polling station 12/4 in Artashat. In Gargar, at polling station 22/34, the administrative head and his team were accused of directing citizens. A CCP proxy was observed very close to the voting booth, directly watching the voter. The seal of a ballot box was reported broken at polling station 8/46. In Mets Ayrum community, at polling station 24/37, administrative head Arsen Gharagyozyan was allegedly standing at the entrance with lists, directing residents. His brother, Kamo Gharagyozyan, was reportedly in the polling station yard with a group of young people, managing the situation. After a report, Kamo Gharagyozyan allegedly warned Arsen Gharagyozyan to leave the area to avoid being filmed. A video from Gyumri 31/41 showed citizens removing ballots from voting booths, displaying them to supervisors, and then discarding them. Representatives of the military police were present at polling station 23/58, where servicemen were voting, not maintaining the required 50-meter distance. In Oshakan, at polling station 17/25, citizens were reportedly entering with ballots.
At 11:00 AM, three cases were reported at polling station 2/37 in Nor Nork, Yerevan, where other citizens were registered at voters’ addresses. Aram Khachatryan, an advisor to Nikol Pashinyan and a parliamentary candidate, was accused of illegally entering polling stations and interfering with voting in Saratovka village, Tashir. Four supporters of the “Armenia” alliance were reportedly detained without explanation by the NSS and Anti-Corruption Committee from polling station 37/19 in Noyemberyan, their whereabouts unknown. The chairman of the commission at Yerevan polling station 7/3 reportedly denied entry to a Yerevan.Today film crew, claiming their accreditation was not original. Congestion was reported at polling station 7/03 due to its small size. At polling station 23/53, ballots were collected in advance, not in the presence of the voter. Aram Khachatryan was also accused of obstructing an elderly woman’s vote at Metsavan village, Tashir (polling station 25/28), after she inadvertently stated she would vote for the “Strong Armenia” alliance. At Yerevan 9/53, citizens were allegedly given two ballots with number 3 to quickly deplete the “Strong Armenia” ballots. A person wearing a CCP campaign hat was seen at polling station 12/61.
At 10:00 AM, the administrative head of Odzun village and the head of the forestry department were reportedly meeting and directing residents near polling station 24/09. In Vanadzor, at polling station 23/11, the commission chairman was seen with an election ballot envelope. Sergey Bagratyan, a CCP parliamentary candidate, reportedly remained at polling station 36/20. At polling station 5/08, a citizen approached to vote but found that someone had already signed for them. Yerevan.Today reported that 45 border guards in Vaskepar community, Tavush region, were taken to vote under the special supervision of their commander. Yerevan.Today also received reports that CCP proxies in Vardenis city and surrounding villages were directing citizens, creating an atmosphere of fear, entering polling stations with citizens, and escorting them to voting booths. An open voting incident was reported at polling station 4/19. Campaigning for the CCP was allegedly conducted at polling stations 28/1 and 36/5. Congestion was reported at polling station 23/41.
By 9:00 AM, CCP proxies in Vardenis city and surrounding villages were already allegedly directing citizens and creating an atmosphere of fear. CCP posters were displayed near polling station 35/2 in Kapan. At polling station 23/42, voting was being filmed inside the booth. Residents of certain buildings on Andranik Street in Yerevan’s Southwestern district were unable to find their polling station, with their usual station moved without notification and no signs at the new location. At Yerevan 7/35, voting was suspended because the live broadcast showed footage from another polling station, 7/34. At Goris 34/03, a CCP representative allegedly directed a voter in need of assistance to place ballot number 3 under the stack. A citizen reported that at the polling station in Armavir’s kindergarten 11, ballot number 16 was placed at the end of the stack when distributed to voters, to easily guide them. At Goris 34/03, a CCP representative reportedly approached a citizen who had chosen ballot number 3 and urged them to change their choice, but the commission chairman refused to record the violation. A CCP proxy was present at polling station 35/7 wearing a map badge distributed during the campaign. At polling station 15/21, a case was recorded where voting was carried out by a relative, not the voter. Violations of voting secrecy were reported at polling stations 8/10 and 8/14.
At 8:30 AM, the principle of voting secrecy was violated at polling station 8/9. In Vanadzor, at polling station 23/51, movement could be seen behind one voting booth, and voting could be observed through a window behind another. The ballot box at polling station 3/13 was placed in front of a door. An attempt at open voting occurred at 3/13. There was no light at polling station 7/46 in kindergarten 95. Campaign posters were found near the entrance of polling station 10/1. These violations were recorded by the “Hayakve” initiative. In Ajapnyak community, Yerevan, polling stations 6/3 and 6/50 had no names written on them, leading citizens to report they couldn’t find them and left without voting. At Yerevan 7/40, the envelopes were transparent, making voting visible. Armavir governor Vahram Khachatryan, within the CCP framework, reportedly stated that “Strong Armenia” would not receive votes in his village, Norapat, as everyone had been instructed to remove ballot number 3. These violations were recorded by the “BIG BROTHER” Telegram channel.
These widespread reports of irregularities raise significant concerns about the fairness and transparency of the Armenian parliamentary elections.
Source: https://armlur.am/1566594/
