Pashinyan and the governing Civil Contract party were looking for a strong mandate for a new geopolitical course for Armenia, including distancing the former Soviet republic from Moscow.

The election result, once confirmed, would cement Pashinyan's Westward push away from Russian influence. It is the first vote since a 2023 crushing military defeat by Azerbaijan.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's ruling party has won parliamentary elections, according to preliminary results on Monday, setting the stage for a renewed mandate to…