The Human Rights Defender’s Office said on Sunday that its staff has been on duty since early morning to conduct independent monitoring of any potential human rights-related complaints or reports on election day.

The Human Rights Defender’s Office has launched a round-the-clock hotline for consultations and support.

Media monitoring is also being carried out in relation to human rights-related information concerning the electoral process.

The Human Rights Defender’s Office can be reached via the 116 hotline or at 096 116 100.

Strong Armenia bloc leader Samvel Karapetyan’s nephew, Narek Karapetyan, cast his ballot on Sunday morning in the parliamentary elections.

Narek Karapetyan is formally the top candidate on the Strong Armenia ticket, but the alliance has said that his uncle is its choice for prime minister if it wins a majority.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote in his hometown of Tashir, Narek Karapetyan said that he voted for “major change and a revitalized Armenia.”

Asked what he voted for, he said:

“For an Armenia where Armenians are primarily engaged in rebuilding their country rather than harming one another, fighting among themselves, or living in constant confrontation. Let us rebuild our country and finally shake off this atmosphere of division. Let us make our country a strongly developing and powerful state—one that future generations can make even stronger, instead of facing the same problems again.”

Karapetyan also urged voters to take part in the election and cast their ballots.

A total of 2,005 polling stations opened at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday across Armenia for the parliamentary election. More than 70 media outlets are covering the polls, while 13 local and eight international organizations are conducting election observation missions.

Three election commission officials, including two precinct chairs and a secretary, did not show up for duty on election day at their assigned stations because they were arrested amid an ongoing criminal investigation, Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission Chairman Vahagn Hovakimyan has said.

Hovakimyan delivered a press briefing on election day, shortly after all 2,005 polling stations across the country opened for the parliamentary elections.

He reported minor technical issues in some places but said that everything is proceeding normally.

“All polling stations began their work at 07:00 in the morning, and from 08:00 all polling stations started receiving voters. As of 08:00, out of 2,005 polling stations, commission members were absent in 48. Of the total 50 absentees, three are two precinct commission chairs and one secretary, whose failure to appear is due to criminal proceedings. However, I should note that the Electoral Code allows the process to continue even if any member of the election commission is absent. If necessary, the heads of territorial election commissions appoint new members,” he said.

According to Hovakimyan, some technical issues arose at polling stations during this time, but they were quickly resolved on the spot. Overall, the voting process is proceeding normally.

Referring to the preparatory work ahead of June 7, Hovakimyan noted that the Central Electoral Commission had organized training sessions: around 4,000 participants were technical equipment operators, and about 16,000 were members of local election commissions. Special training was also conducted for precinct chairs and secretaries.

Addressing the question of what penalties would apply to citizens attempting to photograph ballots or take them out of polling stations, the CEC chair said:

“First, it is not allowed to take photos or in any way violate the secrecy of the vote. The secrecy of the vote is not only a right but also an obligation. Most importantly, it is not allowed to use a pen during voting; there is no need for it. If there is any mark on the envelope or ballot, that vote will be considered invalid. And generally, I do not understand the urge to photograph the ballot—there are many ballots in the voting booth; one can take pictures of those if they wish. The system excludes any illegal control over the voting process.”

Shortly after casting his ballot in a Yerevan polling station, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is leading the Civil Contract party’s re-election bid, expressed confidence that the citizens of Armenia will win the elections, while saying that strengthening democracy will contribute to regional peace and cooperation.

“I am sure that the people will win,” Pashinyan said when asked by reporters about his expectations from the election. “This isn’t a personal matter. My expectation is that the citizens of Armenia will win.”

Asked about possible regional implications of the elections, Pashinyan said that democracy always acts in favor of regional and international cooperation.

“I think democracy always works in favor of regional and international cooperation. And certainly, democracy is an important tool for regional peace.

“We currently, fortunately, have peace with Azerbaijan. You know that we have very deep and fraternal relations with Georgia. And, of course, I expect the normalization of relations with Türkiye and the establishment of diplomatic relations,” the prime minister said.

Pashinyan also expressed confidence that the border with Türkiye, as well as railway and road communications, will open in the near future.

The prime minister also emphasized his administration’s “Crossroads of Peace” project, describing it as a pivotal initiative for the region.

“The ‘Crossroads of Peace’ project can change the situation in the region. It will bring benefits to all countries in our region because we will have not only east–west but also north–south communications, which is very beneficial for Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Iran. This is very important,” he said.

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has said that he does not see any tension in relations with Russia and described such claims as artificial.

“I do not see any tension; it is artificial tension. Our relations with Russia are institutional and based on mutual respect,” the prime minister said when asked by a Russian reporter outside a polling station on Sunday after casting his ballot in the parliamentary elections.

Pashinyan accused “some political forces” in Armenia of attempting to create tensions in Armenia–Russia relations, but said these attempts are not producing results because he maintains good ties with President Vladimir Putin.

“Certain forces operating in Armenia are trying to create tensions in Armenia–Russia relations. These tensions are not created for the simple reason that I have very close relations with the President of the Russian Federation,” Pashinyan said.

Armenia, a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), was earlier notified by its union partners—Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan—that they would like to see a referendum in Armenia choosing between staying in the EAEU or withdrawing and moving toward the European Union. The developments come amid growing ties between Armenia and the EU, which Armenia says do not contradict its EAEU membership for now.

In response to that statement, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on June 1 that Armenia will continue to work within the Eurasian Economic Union framework until the point when choosing between the European Union and the EAEU becomes unavoidable. The prime minister noted that there are currently no grounds for holding such a referendum, as Armenia’s European integration process is not yet at a stage where citizens can be presented with a clear choice. “Until the point when Armenia has either officially applied for EU membership or is very close to obtaining candidate status, holding any referendum would be unreasonable,” Pashinyan said.

In light of these developments, Russia has been imposing growing import restrictions on a wide range of Armenian goods, alleging that they violate phytosanitary standards. This has prompted Armenian exporters to look for new markets, particularly in the EU.

Pashinyan is leading the Civil Contract party’s re-election bid.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was flanked by reporters outside a polling station in Yerevan after casting his ballot, where he was asked questions pertaining to both domestic and foreign policy.

One reporter specifically asked the prime minister about ties with China, and Pashinyan expressed confidence that relations between Yerevan and Beijing would continue to strengthen and develop.

“We adopted a document on strategic partnership with President Xi Jinping last year. This is a fact. I am confident that this fact will not change in a negative context as a result of the elections. I believe that our strategic partnership will continue to develop in the future as well, because both countries are interested in it. In particular, within the framework of the ‘Crossroads of Peace’ project, there are great opportunities, and I am confident that our partnership will deepen,” Pashinyan said when asked what impact the elections will have on Armenia–China relations.

Pashinyan is leading the Civil Contract party’s re-election bid.