The RA NA delegation is taking part in the Ordinary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) taking place in Strasbourg.
“Thank you Madam President,
Dear colleagues,
First of all, let me start with expressing my gratitude and appreciation to the PACE observation mission and to Mr Damien Cottier for the work done and for the report. We take note of the key recommendations presented in the report, and we will certainly work towards their implementation.
The main conclusion of the PACE observation mission is the following: The Armenian parliamentary elections offered voters a genuine choice among political alternatives in a well-run process despite the direct pressure from abroad. The newly elected authorities received a democratic mandate that must now be respected and implemented responsibly.
Colleagues, the parliamentary elections of 7 June 2026 will be remembered as one of the most consequential democratic exercises in the modern history of the Republic of Armenia. What makes these elections particularly significant is the context in which they were held. These elections were about peace, about the Armenian independence and sovereignty, about the democratic security and resilience of Armenia. And given the importance of those topics they became a trigger for a foreign interference, which was described by the PACE observation mission to have reached an unprecedented scale and intensity in a Council of Europe member State.
The observation mission documented direct foreign pressure during the campaign, including economic restrictions, diplomatic threats, information operations aimed at unduly influencing voters in favour of the opposition. Restrictions on Armenian exports, threats concerning energy supplies, hostile political messaging, and coordinated information campaigns were in place. These actions went far beyond normal political commentary. They represented attempts to influence the sovereign democratic decision-making of the Armenian people.
Yet, the most important conclusion of the observation mission is that these efforts did not determine the outcome. The Armenian society demonstrated democratic resilience despite external pressures on an unprecedented scale.
The ultimate response to foreign interference was not confrontation. It was participation. The citizens went to the polling stations. The election officials carried out their duties professionally. The domestic observers monitored the process. The Civil society organizations remained active. The journalists continued their work. The international observers provided transparency and oversight. Together, they ensured that the decisions about Armenia’s future were made by Armenian voters and not by external actors.
Colleagues,
The key message of June 7 is clear: Armenia's future must be determined by its citizens, not by external pressure, intimidation, or interference. The Armenian people demonstrated that democratic choice remains stronger than coercion and that national sovereignty is best protected through free and democratic elections.
Long live Armenia! Long live the Armenian Statehood! Long live the Armenian democracy and long live the Armenian people!
Thank you,” the MP noted in her speech.
