Europe
2021.06.20 21:56 GMT+8

Armenians head to the polls in tight parliamentary race

Updated 2021.06.20 21:56 GMT+8
Patrick Rhys Atack

The Armenian flag is waved by supporters of both leaders in the campaign / Hayk Baghdasaryan / Reuters

Armenia's government has called an election to solve unrest following its loss of territory to Azerbaijan, and voters are casting their votes on Sunday. 

The neighboring countries fought a 6-week war over the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region in 2020 - and lost land in a treaty arbitrated by Russia. 

 

READ MORE

Is there Life on Mars?
The end of the space 'race'
What is Kernewek?
 

It's left prime minister Nikol Pashinyan under pressure, with regular street protests. Pashinyan himself criticized the treaty, but said he had to sign it to stop further loss of life and land. 

The latest polls show Pashinyan and his rival, former president Robert Kocharyan, almost equal. 

Kocharyan, who was President for 10 years to 2008 is a native of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. 

Whichever party wins a majority of seats in the parliament in Yerevan will be invited to form a government by President Armen Sargsyan. 

Source(s): Reuters
Copyright © 

RELATED STORIES