West will try to influence Armenia’s electoral process – Andrey Perla

Speaking with Alpha News, political scientist Andrey Perla commented on the possible influence of Western countries on the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia, following reports that Yerevan requested from Brussels a “rapid response team to counter hybrid threats.” He also assessed the electoral position of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the potential consequences of the elections for the country’s foreign policy.

According to the political scientist, it is quite possible that events may unfold in such a way that Pashinyan could lose his post as prime minister.

“Pashinyan does not have the most favorable position ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia. The data leaking from pre-election surveys indicate that his party does not hold a decisive advantage. It is quite possible that events may develop in such a way that Pashinyan could lose his post as prime minister, and along with this, Armenia’s foreign policy course may change toward Russia and against the interests of the European Union and the United States.

In that case, a number of projects promoted with Western support could be called into question: in particular, plans to create the so-called ‘Trump Route,’ as well as plans to close the nuclear power plant with its subsequent replacement by an American nuclear station, and other initiatives.

Viewed from this perspective, it becomes clear why the West might try to influence the electoral process in Armenia. Including by methods that, according to critics, were applied in Moldova. There, as is known, a significant part of citizens were effectively restricted in their ability to vote: for example, a large number of Moldovans living in Russia, as well as residents of Transnistria. At the same time, for the Moldovan diaspora in EU countries, on the contrary, the most favorable conditions were created for participation in voting. According to supporters of this point of view, such an approach allows the European Union to secure the result it needs in elections. Apparently, similar, to put it mildly, non-parliamentary methods may be attempted in Armenia as well,” Perla concluded.