**Title: EU-Backed Armenia Election Winner Brands Opposition 'Illegal'**
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, leader of the pro-European Union Civil Contract party, has declared opposition parties that secured seats in the recent parliamentary election as illegal. This assertion follows his party's significant victory in the June 7 election, which has been interpreted as a pivotal moment for Armenia's geopolitical alignment, particularly regarding its relationship with the EU.
The official election results, released on Sunday, revealed that Civil Contract garnered 49.74% of the votes, granting it the ability to form a government independently. The opposition bloc, Strong Armenia, led by Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, finished in second place with 23.27%. Former President Robert Kocharyan's Armenia Alliance received 9.92% of the votes, while Gagik Tsarukyan's Prosperous Armenia narrowly missed the 4% threshold necessary for parliamentary representation, obtaining 3.98%. Notably, the three opposition groups have expressed a preference for closer ties with Russia, Armenia's primary trading partner and energy supplier.
During a parliamentary session on Tuesday, Pashinyan criticized the newly elected opposition members, claiming their presence in parliament resulted from "absolutely illegal actions." He emphasized that Armenia has the "legitimate right to deprive these circles of the opportunity for further political activity." Pashinyan further alleged that there was foreign interference aimed at preserving a "criminal-oligarchic regime" within the country.
Pashinyan's comments came amid ongoing protests from opposition supporters, who have been vocal in contesting the election results. Hundreds gathered outside the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) to demand the annulment of the election results, alleging widespread fraud. Opposition parties have announced their intention to challenge the results in the Constitutional Court.
The political landscape in Armenia has been tumultuous, with Pashinyan facing significant protests in recent years. He has accused opposition groups of engaging in vote-buying during the election campaign, a claim that these groups have dismissed as unfounded. In a bid to undermine the financial power of leading opposition figures, Pashinyan has indicated plans to confiscate assets belonging to prominent opponents, including Karapetyan, Kocharyan, and Tsarukyan. He argued that targeting their wealth is essential to preventing future electoral corruption, stating, "They should be left hungry so that the thought of distributing election bribes never even occurs to them."
Opposition leaders have characterized the government's actions as politically motivated repression. Hayk Mamijanyan, the leader of the parliamentary I Have Honor bloc, claimed that Pashinyan has received a "carte blanche" from Western powers to suppress dissent and target opposition figures. He accused the prime minister of "selling" anti-Russian policies to secure support from Western allies.
As Armenia navigates its political future, the implications of this election and the subsequent actions taken by Pashinyan's government will be closely monitored by both domestic and international observers. The outcome of the opposition's legal challenges and the government's response to ongoing protests will likely shape the country's political landscape in the coming months.