The Armenian Parliament has passed a bill in its third and final reading that restricts the eligibility of diaspora voters, requiring them to be present in Armenia for at least one year within a two-year pre-election period in order to participate in elections. The move comes a month after Armenia held its parliamentary election, which resulted in Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party winning a majority of seats.

Armenia had already barred diaspora voters from casting their ballots from abroad, instead requiring them to return to Armenia in order to participate in the election.

In the leadup to the election, there was considerable discussion about the possibility of Russia mobilising its diaspora population to try and unseat Pashinyan. While the massive influx of voters from Russia did not ultimately materialise, nor be of a high enough number to prevent Pashinyan from winning, the new passed on Friday appears to be a reaction to such fears.

The new law also specified exemptions for certain categories of Armenians who are abroad, such as government officials who are officially posted abroad, their family members, and students studying at universities overseas.

The law was authored by several members of Civil Contract, who said the legislation was put together with the recommendations of the government.

Critics of Pashinyan and his party have condemned the bill, arguing it amounts to unconstitutional disenfranchisement of voters and is specifically targeted at the opposition.