Armenia Before the Election: What Kind of Democracy Will Prevail? (dgap.org)

• Pashinyan's plebiscitary leadership bypasses parliament and parties, centralizing authority.
• Civil society is split between pro-government, critical, and disillusioned camps.
• Peace talks reduce security concerns but the government avoids accountability for war losses.

"Armenia is seen as a democratization success in the South Caucasus, but under Prime Minister Pashinyan power has become personalized, weakening institutions and deepening polarization. Civil society is fragmented, and the government pursues normalization with Azerbaijan and Turkey. The June 2026 elections will test whether Armenia's democracy consolidates or hybridizes further."