Armenian PM not to travel to Moscow for may 9 parade

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has informed Russian President Vladimir Putin that he will not attend the May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow due to the start of Armenia’s election campaign.

During the final cabinet meeting before the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7, he said that most members of the government would go on leave during the campaign period, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“From tomorrow, the election campaign for the parliamentary elections begins. I and, in fact, most members of the government will be on leave to participate in the campaign,” the Armenian prime minister noted.

He added that the top priority would be to ensure that the elections are held in line with international democratic standards, guaranteeing the free expression of the Armenian people’s will and preventing unlawful influence on voters.

He expressed confidence that Armenia’s authorities are now more capable than ever of holding elections that meet international democratic standards.

Earlier, Pashinyan announced the beginning of the parliamentary election campaign ahead of the June elections, stating that it would start on May 8.

Parliamentary elections in Armenia are scheduled for June 7.

A total of 19 political forces have submitted applications to the Central Election Commission, including 17 parties and two political blocs.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov