Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung 30d ago

On 7 June, Armenia will hold parliamentary elections that are of crucial importance for the country's democratic and European future, as well as for peace in the region. The election campaign is deeply polarised and revolves primarily around foreign policy issues - in particular the negotiation and peace process with Azerbaijan and the troubled relationship with Russia. As a result, the shortcomings of Armenia's young democracy are being pushed into the background. Once hailed as the hero of the 2018 Velvet Revolution, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has squandered considerable political capital in recent years. Yet he enters the campaign with confidence, staking his claim to an outright majority. High on his electoral agenda are the normalisation of relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey, a fundamental reorientation of Armenian policy towards Russia, and deeper integration with the EU. That course received a powerful endorsement in early May, when Yerevan hosted both the European Political Community summit and the first-ever EU-Armenia summit. On the domestic front, the Prime Minister can point to major infrastructure projects, improvements in the socioeconomic situation, and the modernisation of the armed forces. Far more contentious are his own polarising political communication style and the debate he has sparked over a new Armenian identity - and over the need to close the chapter on the Karabakh movement. Armenia's political opposition remains dominated by the well-known and financially powerful elites from the period before the "Velvet Revolution." With the Armenian-Russian oligarch Samvel Karapetyan - who enjoys open support from the Kremlin - a new and influential player has established himself in their ranks. The agenda of this opposition aims to prevent Armenia's EU integration and to restore Russia as the indispensable number-one alliance partner. In this political environment, smaller and newly emerging political forces are struggling to make their voices heard. In a panel discussion, we will assess the election results together with experts from Armenia. We warmly invite you to join us. - Elections as a test of democracy: Has Armenia passed the test? - What comes next? What are the prospects for a peace agreement with Azerbaijan, the Armenian-Turkish dialogue, and the TRIPP project? - Will Armenia continue on its path of EU integration and gradual emancipation from Russia - and what obstacles still stand in the way? - In light of the new political realities, should EU and German policy towards Armenia be adjusted? With: - Anahide Pilibossian, Vice President of Strategy and Development, APRI Armenia - Arsen Kharatyan, Political Analyst, Editor-in-Chief of Aliq Media - Samvel Meliksetian, Political analyst and expert, Armenian Council - Sergey Lagodinsky, Member of the European Parliament, The Greens/EFA, Chair of the EuroNest Parliamentary Assembly