Voters in Gyumri shared their expectations for the new parliament.
Residents of Gyumri who came to the polling station this morning to vote in the parliamentary elections are expecting the authorities to guarantee stable work and wages.
As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," voting in the parliamentary elections is underway in Armenia today. At 8:00 a.m. local time (7:00 a.m. Moscow time), 2,005 polling stations opened to voters. Observers recorded violations at several polling stations, and at a polling station in Yerevan, an electronic system failure paralyzed the voting process. Some polling stations are experiencing technical problems, the Chairman of the Central Election Commission admitted.
The elections will effectively be a referendum on the future of the current government and Armenia's foreign policy, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "2026 Elections to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia".
There was no rush during the first hour of voting
This morning, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent observed the opening of polling station No. 31/06, located in the Ani neighborhood of Gyumri.
The police presence was minimal: two officers stood nearby. There was no pre-election bustle: there were no campaigners, no gatherings of party supporters, no organized attempts to transport people. The atmosphere around the polling station was calm and in no way resembled a tense election campaign.
A "Caucasian Knot" correspondent observed the proceedings at the polling station for about an hour. Voter turnout was consistent with the leisurely pace of life in Gyumri: a maximum of 15 people showed up per hour. There were no signs of irregularities or campaigning.
Residents expressed a desire for stable work and wages
Despite the early hour and the small number of voters, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent managed to speak with residents who came to the polling station. The survey is not representative and reflects only the personal opinions of those surveyed.
"It's always so quiet and unhurried in Gyumri. I had to be at work at 8 a.m., but on a day like this, you can be a little late. I decided [who to vote for] a long time ago; I voted for the usual stability. For whom exactly? I won't tell you that," said 64-year-old welder Aram with an enigmatic smile.
However, he proudly added that he is participating in the construction of a sports school named after Olympic champion Artur Aleksanyan, using government funds. "I voted so that the school would be completed and we would be paid consistently," the man noted.
20-year-old student Anna came to the polling station with her grandfather to help him vote. "I came to Gyumri over the weekend to visit my grandparents. My grandfather has poor eyesight and needs help voting. They came early so I could fill out the form, and they allowed me to go into the booth with him and help him vote," she said, and went inside.
They left 15 minutes later. "I'm for Pashinyan, I have nothing to hide," Anna's grandfather Karapet announced as soon as he left the polling station.
His granddaughter reported that everything went well and she was allowed to help the elderly man. "There were no problems; everyone is always cheerful and positive in the morning. But by the end of voting, everyone is angry and nervous. I'm going to Yerevan now to vote there. "It'll be crowded and tense there. Who will I vote for? I agree with my grandfather," she said.
I'll vote for those who provide jobs here so I don't have to leave.
42-year-old unemployed Vagram, on the other hand, opposes Pashinyan. "I spend most of the year, about nine months, in Russia, working seasonally on construction sites to support my family. I've been home for a month now; it's just a coincidence; I didn't come specifically for the elections. I'll vote for those who provide jobs here so I don't have to leave every year. Pashinyan can't do that," he said.
45-year-old teacher Karina Minasyan said she arrived at the polling station "early so I don't have to stand around later." "Although here in Gyumri, there are almost no lines. I decided who I'd vote for last month. I'm a teacher, and my salary has doubled. We're undergoing certification, and salaries are growing. I'm for this stability," she said.
Political games don't concern me as much as the ability to work peacefully.
28-year-old entrepreneur David lives in Gyumri and is involved in trade. "I voted consciously; I made my decision a long time ago. For me, the most important thing is economic development and support for small businesses. Political games don't concern me as much as the ability to work peacefully in my city and see a future for my children. "Russia had no influence on my choice," he said.
As a reminder, before polling stations opened today, security forces conducted searches at the Armenia bloc headquarters in Gyumri and detained candidate Hasmik Sagradyan. Searches were also conducted at the headquarters of the "Strong Armenia" party.
In the run-up to the elections, Armenian authorities increased pressure on opposition supporters, and opposition representatives claimed abuse of administrative resources by the authorities.
The most pro-Russian participants in the elections are the "Strong Armenia" bloc of businessman Samvel Karapetyan, the "Armenia" bloc of former President Robert Kocharyan, and the "Prosperous Armenia" party of oligarch Gagik Tsarukyan. According to analysts, the parties of Samvel Karapetyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Robert Kocharyan will become key competitors in the elections.