Russia Expresses Concern Over Opposition Participation in Armenia’s Elections

Moscow. Russia has expressed concern over reports that opposition parties may be barred from participating in Armenia’s parliamentary elections. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, responding to a media question on June 6, 2026, said the electoral process in Armenia should proceed on the basis of democratic rules and legal procedures.

Zakharova claimed that Armenian authorities were seeking to remove the largest opposition bloc, Strong Armenia, from the elections. She also said similar steps could possibly be taken against the Prosperous Armenia party. In the response published by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Zakharova warned that if such a measure were implemented, it could call into question the legitimacy of the overall electoral process.

According to her, the election campaign appears to be moving away from lawful and competitive procedures and toward pressure against opposition forces. She also cited arrests of opposition figures, harassment, seizure of property, and pressure on the Armenian Apostolic Church as matters of concern.

Zakharova said that if opposition parties are prevented from taking part in the elections, Armenian citizens would be deprived of the right to choose the future of their country. She described such a situation as directly linked to democratic practice, civil rights, and the credibility of the election.

She added that international bodies such as the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe would not be able to treat such a matter merely as a general “concern.” In her view, the issue concerns not only legal standards but also the political rights and national interests of the Armenian people.

Russia expects Yerevan to follow democratic procedures not only in words but also in practice, Zakharova said. She noted that Armenian leaders frequently speak publicly about democracy and said those commitments should be demonstrated through concrete actions.

As Armenia’s parliamentary elections approach, disputes involving the government, opposition parties, the church, and the country’s foreign policy orientation have made the political atmosphere increasingly sensitive. Zakharova’s latest remarks have once again highlighted tensions in Russia-Armenia relations and Moscow’s attention to Armenia’s domestic political process.