"Strong Armenia" bloc top candidate casts ballot in  parliamentary  elections

ArmInfo.  The top candidate of the "Strong Armenia" bloc, Narek Karapetyan, cast his ballot in the parliamentary elections at a school in the Tashir community of  Armenia's Lori region.

Speaking to journalists after voting, Karapetyan noted that he cast  his ballot in the name of major changes and a revitalized Armenia.  "For an Armenia where citizens are primarily engaged in rebuilding  the country rather than thinking about how to harm one another. Let  us make our country serious and developing, instead of pitting people  against each other. And let us ensure that future generations do not  face these same issues," Karapetyan stated.

In this regard, he appealed to the citizens of Armenia, urging them  to take 10 minutes of their time to go out and vote. Karapetyan also  commented on claims that Armenian citizens arriving from abroad to  participate in the elections—specifically from Russia—would be barred  from voting and immediately sent to 25-day military training.  According to the party's political council member, this is an  information trick designed to depress voter turnout.

"All citizens of Armenia have the right to participate in the  elections. This is their constitutional right. The current government  wants fewer people to take part in the vote. However, the true  expression of the citizens' will lies precisely in exercising their  right to participate in the elections. Only then will we see the true  opinion of our citizens," Karapetyan concluded.

Recall, Regular parliamentary elections are underway in Armenia.  A  total of 2,500 polling stations opened across the country at 8:00 AM  local time, most of which are equipped with surveillance cameras.   According to data provided by the Migration  and Citizenship Service  of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia, just under 2.5  million citizens are eligible to vote. Eighteen political forces –  including two alliances  and 16 parties – have been registered to  participate in the elections. Among the frontrunners are the "Civil  Contract" party of the incumbent Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol  Pashinyan; the "Strong Armenia" alliance of businessman Samvel  Karapetyan; the "Armenia" alliance of the second president, Robert  Kocharyan; and the "Prosperous Armenia" party of businessman Gagik  Tsarukyan. Since early morning, observers and journalists have been  reporting numerous violations in the organization of  the voting  process. 

It should be added that on June 4, 2026, Armenian Defense Minister  Suren Papikyan did not rule out that Armenian citizens arriving from  Russia to participate in the elections may be served notices for  military training. When asked whether citizens arriving from France  or the United States would be sent to the training camp, the minister  assured that this requirement applies to all citizens liable for  military service.