ARMENIAN Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan claimed victory today in the country’s general election, as preliminary results showed his governing Civil Contract party came first with 49.81 per cent of the vote.

According to Armenia’s Central Election Commission, four parties polled above the 4 per cent electoral threshold giving them enough support to enter parliament following Sunday’s election.

Mr Pashinyan and the governing Civil Contract party are looking for a strong mandate for a new geopolitical course for Armenia, including distancing the country from Moscow and seeking to join the European Union.

According to the election commission, the Strong Armenia bloc was the runner-up with 23.29 per cent of the vote. 

It is led by Samvel Karapetyan, a billionaire who made his fortune in Russia and is under house arrest for allegedly advocating for the government’s overthrow. He has rejected the charge as politically motivated.

Two other parties, Armenia and Blossoming Armenia, also made it into parliament with 9.94 per cent and 4 per cent of votes, respectively. According to the election commission, turnout in the country where voting is compulsory stood at 97 per cent.

Before the results came in, Mr Pashinyan told journalists his party would form the government on its own.