Russia claimed on Monday that Armenia’s parliamentary election was held over the weekend amid Western interference and "unprecedented pressure” on the country’s opposition.
“On June 7, parliamentary elections were held in Armenia amid unprecedented pressure on the opposition and interference from the West, primarily the EU,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.
Arguing that preliminary results show a significant decline in support for the country's ruling Civil Contract party, Zakharova said there is a “clear demand” in Armenian society for closer ties with Russia and for Yerevan’s continued participation in Eurasian integration structures.
Zakharova further said that the election campaign and the voting process took place amid “harsh repression" by Armenian authorities.
She accused the country’s leadership of “flagrant violation of democratic principles and procedures for holding free elections” and persecuting those advocating for bolstering Armenia’s “vital union with Russia.”
“We hope that the Armenian authorities will be guided by approaches based on national interests," she said.
As for Moscow's future relations with Armenia, she said: "We intend to formulate our course taking into account the actual steps taken by the Armenian leadership.”
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