“The future of Armenia will be a strategy of strengthening independence, statehood, democracy, and the rule of law,” Pashinyan told reporters outside a polling station after casting his ballot Sunday morning. “We will continue along the path of democratic reforms, of course with the support of our European partners, because the European Union is our main partner in implementing democratic reforms.”
The Central Election Commission is scheduled to announce official preliminary voting results on Monday.
The election was buffeted by concerns of Russian meddling. Armenian authorities announced on Saturday that more than 40 people had been arrested on suspicion of buying votes amid an investigation into a large-scale scheme allegedly involving Strong Armenia, according to state media.
Six of the arrest warrants were for members of Karapetyan’s party, according to media reports.
Commenting on the arrests Sunday, Karapetyan said they “would not change the minds of Armenian voters.” The Strong Armenia founder had been campaigning from his mansion after being put under house arrest last July for making “public calls to usurp power.” He has rejected the charge as politically motivated.
Karapetyan was escorted to a polling station on Sunday where he spoke briefly to the media before returning home, the Associated Press reported. “The Armenian people will make the right choice and Armenia will finally have a legitimate government,” Karapetyan said.