Strong Armenia: CEC`s refusal to hold re-run of polling stations  where results annulled would mean crossing democratic red lines

ArmInfo. The refusal of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) of Armenia and the authorities to hold a re-run of the polling stations where the results were annulled would mean crossing all democratic red lines. Narek Karapetyan, a  member of the board of the "Strong Armenia" party, stated this in a  video message published on Facebook.

In this regard, Karapetyan noted that all these processes began after  they announced that, according to preliminary results, the Civil  Contract party had lost three-fifths of the vote in parliament, and  therefore the ability to amend the country's constitution at  Azerbaijan's request. According to him, it was after this that the  CEC selected the polling stations where the PAP had received the most  votes and annulled them.

"As an explanation, they noted that military personnel voted at these  very polling stations late in the evening. However, the same thing  happened at hundreds of other polling stations. This is an attempt to  prevent the party from entering parliament. Therefore, we, as the  largest political force in Armenia, with the potential to replace the  Civil Contract party, announce that if the Central Election  Commission and the country's authorities do not hold a rerun of the  vote at these polling stations, it will mean they have crossed all  democratic red lines," Karapetyan stated.

Ishkhan Saghatelyan, a representative of the ARF Supreme Body and an  MP from the "Armenia" bloc, also responded to the situation.  According to the MP, this decision was a last resort after the  authorities realized they could not achieve their goal by any other  means. Saghatelyan urged everyone to consider what the authorities  could have done during this entire period if they can now afford such  a move. "The CEC Chair and the Commission are simply criminals, tools  in the hands of the Civil Contract party to carry out these shameful  and illegal actions. This is the true face of this force that talks  about democracy. Their team and the CEC are thieves of mandates and  votes. They are doing everything to prevent the PAP from entering  parliament. This is being done so they can continue their illegal  actions," Saghatelyan noted.

The MP believes that, under these circumstances, all opposition  political forces should issue a statement.  "We intend to discuss our  next steps against these illegal actions with the forces we cooperate  with. None of this will go unanswered," the opposition leader  concluded.

Referring to the Central Election Commission's decision to annul the  election results at two polling stations, former Justice Minister  Arpine Hovhannisyan recalled that, according to Article 101 of the  Electoral Code, "if there were violations of the Code during the  elections that could have affected the election results, the Central  Election Commission decides to hold re-runs at individual polling  stations if the consequences of these violations can be rectified."

"If the Central Election Commission makes such a decision, repeat  elections will be held on the seventh day after that decision.

There are two circumstances: the CEC must consider whether the  violations at these two polling stations could have affected the  election results and whether the consequences of these violations can  be rectified, and then schedule repeat elections with a separate  decision. I consider it unrealistic for the CEC, after assessing the  overall impact on the elections, to annul them entirely," she  concluded.

The Central Election Commission of Armenia previously announced the  annulment of votes at two polling stations. This, in turn, once again  called into question the possibility of Tsarukyan's party entering  parliament. Experts have already called these CEC steps illegal.

As a reminder, regular parliamentary elections were held in Armenia  on June 7, 2026. Voter turnout was 58.97%. According to preliminary  data from the Central Election Commission of Armenia, Nikol  Pashinyan's ruling Civil Contract party, Samvel Karapetyan's Strong  Armenia bloc, and second president Robert Kocharyan's Armenia bloc  have all entered parliament. The remaining candidates scored below  the required threshold of 4% for parties and 8-10% for blocs.  Notably, businessman Gagik Tsarukyan's Prosperous Armenia party lost  its 4% threshold after the Central Election Commission adjusted the  preliminary vote counts for the June 7 parliamentary elections.  Therefore, the party will not be included in the new parliament.

From early morning on election day, observers and journalists  reported numerous violations by the ruling party during the voting  process. Thus, Pashinyan's party has the opportunity to  single-handedly form the country's government by securing a majority  of seats in the Armenian parliament. This was solemnly announced by  Pashinyan himself late at night, when data from only about 10% of  polling stations had been processed.