BY APPO JABARIAN
In results announced Monday June 8, Armenia’s Central Election Commission said Pash-inyan’s ruling Civil Contract party had secured 49.81% of the vote, multiple agencies reported. APPO K. JABARIAN Executive Publisher & Managing Editor Russian-backed opposition “Strong Armenia” and “Hayastan” alliances came in distant second with 23% and third with 9% putting Pashinyan well ahead. Despite the fact that “Civic Contract” party may lack the constitutional majority, the ruling party is intent on a pivot away from Russia while not antagonizing Kremlin. The 44-Day anti-Armenian terrorist aggression by Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Israel, Pakistan and ISIS (Islamic State) in Fall 2020 proved deadly for Nagorno Karababakh/Artsakh. It also proved deadly for the Arme-nia-Russia alliance. Russia’s then Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu joined a chorus of other well-wishers in congratulating Azerbaijan on the 2020 military victory against Armenia. That did it. It was a wakeup call for Armenia and world Armenians. Homeland and Diaspora Armenians realized that Russia, the country’s longstanding security guarantor and trading partner, turned out to be an unreliable ally. In the aftermath of 2020’s 44-Day national calamity, the American Armenian Diaspora transformed its anger and deep disappointment into a positive approach: American Armenians and Americans with affinity toward the Armenian heritage embarked on an unprecedented education campaign fostering a stronger strategic economic, political and military alliance between the United States of America and the Republic of Armenia. Americans from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds including American Armenians also embarked on a second educational initiative supporting Armenia’s Sover-eignty, Independence, Economy, Democracy and Defense. On June 7, election day, Armenia’s voters went to the polls fully realizing they were casting their ballots for multiple purposes: a) To decide the rulers for the next 5 years; b) Whether to embrace or reject Armenia’s pivot to the West and East further diversifying its foreign alliances; c) To actively seek peace with neighbors Turkiye and Azerbaijan. A convincing majority opted for Armenia’s further integration with the transatlantic alliance, especially with the European Union and the United States decoupling from Russia. The voters also cast their ballots giving their nod to alleviate the negative im- pact Armenia has been experiencing under Russia’s authoritarian ‘security guaranties.’ After all, Russian security turned into insecurity for many Arme- nians. During the last five years, the old re- gime kleptocracy has been fast at work to vilify Prime Minister Pashinyan by mischaracterizing him as a “traitor,” handing over of Nagorno Karabakh to Azerbaijan, when in fact, they were the ones who perpetrated treason along with Russia to stage Armenia’s military defeat in the 2020. In August 2023, backed by Russia, Kremlin’s lackeys in Nagorno Karabakh executed a coup d’état against democratically-elected NKR President Arayik Harutyunyan. According to statements from multiple reliable sources, he was forced to step down. He was replaced by Russia’s agent Samvel Shahramanyan. No later than a month, Azerbaijan went on a military offensive in September 2023. At the Kremlin’s instructions, Samvel Shahramanyan dissolved the Nagorno- Karabakh Republic. Now the Russian-sponsored old re- gime kleptocracy continues to ramble against PM Pashinyan. They seem frustrated that their ill-guided cam- paign against the Prime Minister of Armenia backfired big time during the Sunday June 7 parliamentary elections. Russia’s influence peddlers in Ye- revan including Catholicos Karekin II, his partners Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Moscow’s Archbishop Yezras along with former presidents Robert Kocharyan and oligarchic ‘businessman’ Samvel Karapetyan (also known as ‘Tashir Samo’), have triggered another huge loss for Russia. The latest election debacle in Armenia marks the latest example of Moscow’s fading influence in the races for Ro- mania, Moldova, and of course, Victor Orban’s Hungary. Although Armenia’s Democracy is in its early stages, Yerevan took a gi- ant step forward consolidating its role in the emerging ‘Ring of Democracy’ in Eastern Europe and the South Cau- casus.