Armenia's Parliamentary Elections

A Step Forward or a Wasted Opportunity?

Author(s): Mikayel Zolyan
Editor(s): Iris Kempe, Matthias Neumann, Robert Orttung, Jeronim Perovic, Lili Di Puppo, Hans Gutbrod
Series: Caucasus Analytical Digest (CAD)
Issue: 39
Pages: 5-8
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich; Research Centre for East European Studies, University of Bremen; Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, George Washington University
Publication Year: 2012

In spite of certain improvements, such as relatively balanced media coverage of the campaign and a drop in violent incidents, Armenia's 2012 parliamentary elections largely repeated the pattern that had been established in previous years. The ruling political force secured an overwhelming victory, employing questionable means such as bribing voters and exerting administrative pressure, and the opposition refused to accept the victory as legitimate. In terms of foreign policy implications, the elections will hardly lead to significant changes, as foreign policy issues were not at the center of this campaign.

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