The Armenian parliamentary elections have come under scrutiny for alleged government coercion and interference from Western nations. Eduard Sharmazanov, a former deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament, highlighted significant pressure exerted on opposition candidates, particularly noting that key opposition figure Samvel Karapetyan was under house arrest during the election period. Sharmazanov criticized the support given to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan by Western leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. officials, claiming this external backing contributed to an environment hostile to dissent. He pointed out the extensive use of administrative resources by the government, which included manipulating social media and arresting opposition members, while no violations were reported against Pashinyan's party. The politician expressed concern that the West's involvement aims to destabilize Armenian-Russian relations, positioning Armenia as an anti-Russian stronghold. He concluded that the electoral process resembled those seen under authoritarian regimes, reflecting a troubling trend for democracy in Armenia.