The topics of Karabakh and Azerbaijan have become key in the campaigning of Armenian politicians.
During his election campaign, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared that the end of Nagorno-Karabakh was inevitable, while his opponents blamed him for making concessions in negotiations with Azerbaijan.
As "Caucasian Knot" reported, "Civil Contract" and "Alliance Armenia" appealed to the past in their campaign on May 29: Nikol Pashinyan's party criticized its predecessors, while Robert Kocharyan recalled his achievements. "Strong Armenia" and "Prosperous Armenia" tried to attract voters with promises of a prosperous future.
Elections to the National Assembly of Armenia will be held on June 7. According to analysts, the parties of Samvel Karapetyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and former President Robert Kocharyan will be key competitors in the elections. Samvel Karapetyan's Strong Armenia, along with Robert Kocharyan's Armenia bloc and Gagik Tsarukyan's Prosperous Armenia, is one of the most pro-Russian parties in the Armenian parliamentary elections. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report "2026 Elections to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia".
Over the past 24 hours, the themes of security, peaceful settlement, state sovereignty, and national identity have dominated the election campaigns of Armenian parties, according to politicians' posts on their Facebook pages*.
"Civil Contract": Security, Development, and Defense of the Government's Course
The ruling party concluded its campaign day with a rally of thousands in Ijevan after meetings with voters in Getahovit, Achajur, Sevkar, Koghba, Berdavan, and other settlements in the Tavush region.
One of the central themes of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's speeches was strengthening the country's defense capability.
"We will continue developing the army at the same pace," Nikol Pashinyan stated.
The Prime Minister also emphasized the government's successes in the economic and social spheres.
"280,000 jobs have been created in Armenia since 2018," Pashinyan said during a meeting with voters.
Special attention was paid to the development of border settlements.
"More than 200 houses are being built in Berdavan under a 16 million ruble project. "The border villages will not be deserted; they are being replenished," the Prime Minister noted.
A separate area of campaigning was the defense of the TRIPP project.
"The Republic of Armenia retains full jurisdiction, sovereignty, and territorial integrity over all areas of the TRIPP project implementation," Pashinyan emphasized.
Another 10, 20, or 30 years of bleeding Armenia dry would still not resolve the issue.
On the Karabakh settlement, the head of government once again explained the need to abandon previous approaches.
"Another 10, 20, or 30 years of bleeding Armenia dry would still not resolve the issue," Nikol stated. Pashinyan.
The Prime Minister also emphasized the democratic nature of the elections.
"The free will of the people is expressed through the election results, and it will be recorded," he stated.
Criticism of opponents occupied a prominent place in the Civil Contract campaign.
Statements by Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan addressed to Armenia's second president, Robert Kocharyan, were published on the party's Facebook page*.
"No thoughts, no ideas about the world, the present, or the future." "A bitter old man, living with the false illusions of a former 'chief governor, the only man,'" stated Anahit Avanesyan.
"Alliance Armenia" focused on criticizing foreign policy
Armenia's second president, Robert Kocharyan, built his campaign around the need for a change of power and a revision of the country's current leadership's policies.
"Our goal is not simply a change of power. Our goal is to create a high-quality Armenian state. We will do this," stated Robert Kocharyan.
These eight years have been years of shame for all of us. We must close this page and restore the dignity of Armenia and the Armenian people.
One of the main themes of his speeches was criticism of the results of Pashinyan's team's eight-year rule.
"These eight years have been years of shame for all of us. "We must close this chapter and restore the dignity of Armenia and the Armenian people," the bloc's leader declared.
The issue of Nagorno-Karabakh occupied a significant place in the campaign.
"Artsakh people. "The people have self-determined, and recognition of their self-determination continues," Kocharyan stated.
At the same time, he placed responsibility for the outcome of the Karabakh settlement on the current prime minister.
"Nikol Pashinyan failed the negotiation process by legitimizing Azerbaijan's attack," the former president stated.
Foreign policy, in particular relations with Russia, became another important topic.
"What Nikol Pashinyan is doing in foreign relations today is a carbon copy of the
The economic consequences of foreign policy decisions were also used as an argument against the government.
"Did Pashinyan consult with the people? Are the people ready to pay double for gasoline?" "This is simply another irresponsible statement, and the burden of his mistakes will once again fall on the people," he stated.
Pashinyan's conflict with the church and future relations with Azerbaijan were exploited in the "Strong Armenia" bloc's campaign rhetoric.
The "Strong Armenia" bloc campaigned in Gyumri, Maralik, and Artik.
Party leader Samvel Karapetyan made the protection of traditional values and the Armenian Apostolic Church one of the key themes.
"If we don't have culture, we will quickly forget to look at Mount Ararat and the church, which Pashinyan is trying to erase," Samvel Karapetyan stated. These words were published on the party's Facebook page*.
The conflict between the Armenian authorities and the Armenian Apostolic Church has been ongoing since 2018, when Pashinyan came to power. This conflict became apparent against the backdrop of the 2020 Karabakh War and the authorities' desire to improve relations with Turkey, according to analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot."
The party also used mobilization slogans designed to increase voter turnout.
"If you don't come to vote, the Azerbaijanis will," the party stated in a Facebook post*.
Azerbaijani citizens should not have the right to buy land, housing, or even receive real estate in Armenia as a gift.
Party representatives paid special attention to issues of property ownership and the possible opening of borders after the conclusion of a peace agreement.
"The Minister of Territorial Administration announced that a new auction website has been launched, through which Azerbaijani citizens will be able to make purchases in Armenia after the signing of the Peace Agreement. We believe that citizens of Azerbaijan should not have the right to buy land, housing, or even receive real estate as a gift in Armenia. “In addition, Azerbaijani citizens should not have the right to stay in Armenia for more than ten days,” said party council member Narek Karapetyan.
"Prosperous Armenia": social problems and quality of life
The Prosperous Armenia Party held rallies in Spitak and Stepanavan.
The main focus of the party leader Gagik Tsarukyan's speech was on the socio-economic agenda.
"There are many problems that people face: high property taxes, rising tuition fees, social difficulties, and many daily problems that need to be addressed," Gagik Tsarukyan said on his social media page.
He called security and stability the main demand of society.
"The greatest expectation of our "Citizens need a peaceful, secure, and dignified life, where every person has the opportunity to work, create, and build the future of their family in their country," the party leader emphasized.