With Election Day fast approaching, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government is hoping that shows of support from the United States and European Union will give it a boost at the polls.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio paid a brief visit to Yerevan on May 26, during which he signed a Charter on Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership together with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan. The two also inked a framework agreement concerning the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, envisioned as a key cog in the Middle Corridor trade network and the centerpiece of the Armenian-Azerbaijani provisional peace agreement signed last August in Washington.

The documents appeared to contain little that could be considered new, and represented mostly a show of support for Pashinyan’s efforts to steer Armenia westward, breaking away from Russia’s geopolitical orbit.

Mirzoyan touted Rubin’s visit as evidence that the government’s foreign policy would foster greater prosperity. “Our comprehensive strategic relations between our two countries are stronger today than ever before,” Mirzoyan told journalists. “It would not be an exaggeration to say that we have entered a historically unprecedented phase.”   

Earlier, Pashinyan, while on the campaign trail, enticed voters with a promise that, if reelected, he would negotiate a visa-free travel regime with European Union within two years. He added that he would also quickly resolve a host of domestic issues. “If I get a vote of confidence from you, I will address all issues within the framework of four principles. There are four principles: goods-services, workforce, finances, and seamless transit.”

Armenia’s parliamentary elections will take place on June 7. Polls show Pashinyan’s Civil Contract Party stands a good chance of retaining power in parliament, despite a low approval rating. 

Russia has mounted a pressure campaign in the hopes of undermining support for Pashinyan. His electoral opponents favor maintaining strong ties to Russia. In one of its latest moves, the Kremlin has banned imports of key Armenian goods, including flowers, fruits, brandy and mineral water.

A top Kremlin official, Sergei Shoigu, characterized the ban as retaliation for “clearly unfriendly steps” taken by Yerevan.