As part of the campaign for Armenia’s parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is currently on leave and serves as chairman of the board of the Civil Contract party, visited Yerevan’s Avan administrative district on May 23.

Led by Pashinyan, party representatives toured Avan, distributed leaflets, took photographs with residents and urged citizens to take part in the parliamentary elections.

“People must go to polling stations and stand up for peace by voting for number 16. That vote should not and cannot be forced or paid for. We vote because we must stand up for the state, for peace and for Armenia’s future,” Pashinyan said.

In his speech, Pashinyan stated that, under all circumstances, it is the people who make the decisions in Armenia today.

“This is the core of today’s Armenia and of the political activity of me and our team. The moment the people decide that I should leave, I will leave at that very moment, without discussion. If 700,000 people – 50% plus one percent of voters – say ‘Nikol should stay,’ then Nikol will stay. If people say ‘Nikol should go,’ then who is Nikol not to leave? Nikol is a servant. How can a servant say, ‘No, I will not go’?” Pashinyan said.

The official campaign for Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections began on May 8 and will continue until June 5. A total of 19 political forces – including two alliances and 17 parties – have registered to participate in the elections.

The Civil Contract party is contesting the elections under number 16 with the slogan “Stand up for peace.” The party has submitted to the Central Electoral Commission an electoral list consisting of 283 candidates, along with a separate list of 10 candidates representing national minorities. The party’s candidate for prime minister is Nikol Pashinyan.