Election results early this week in a former part of the Soviet Union have struck a further blow to Vladimir Putin’s global influence, and shows how much the war in Ukraine has damaged the Russian President’s international standing.
The elections in Armenia saw a pro-EU party, Civil Contract, secure 49.8 per cent of the vote, compared to 23.2 per cent for the pro-Russian Strong Armenia party. The vote gave prime minister Nikol Pashinyan, who was seeking re-election on a promise of European integration, a strong boost.
The result is already being viewed as evidence of Russia’s waning influence in the country, which was previously seen by the Kremlin as a key military, economic and geopolitical partner. It also comes as Russia’s influence is suffering additional setbacks around the world.
Shorts
The result is “the best possible one from the mainstream European point of view,” James Nixey, acting head of research and analysis at the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies, told The i Paper.
