A new poll shows Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the verge of a landslide victory in the June 7 parliamentary elections, giving him a strong mandate to steer the country toward the West and away from Moscow.
The Breavis survey of 1,551 respondents conducted May 5-11 projects Pashinyan's Civil Contract party winning nearly 65% of decided voters. No opposition party exceeds 12%.
A decisive win would solidify Armenia's strategic realignment, cement the historic peace agreement with Azerbaijan over Karabakh, and set Yerevan on a collision course with the Kremlin. The peace deal, signed at the White House last year with President Ilham Aliyev, ended decades of conflict.
Moscow has escalated pressure in recent weeks, imposing trade bans, threatening Armenia's suspension from the Eurasian Economic Union, and recalling its ambassador. Russia's Foreign Ministry said the recall was over Armenia's steps toward rapprochement with the European Union.
President Vladimir Putin has drawn parallels between Armenia's EU aspirations and the crisis in Ukraine. The EAEU leaders have called for a national referendum on Armenia's choice between the EU and the Moscow-led bloc.
President Donald Trump has given Pashinyan his "complete and total endorsement," calling him "a great friend and leader." Western intelligence officials report Moscow plans to transport thousands of Armenian voters from Russia to influence the election.