Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke about the issue of Armenian citizens in foreign countries voting during the opening of the “Neruzh” project in Dilijan. One of the participants, who has lived in Canada for the past ten years, asked if the new government will create an opportunity for Armenian citizens living outside of Armenia to vote.

Pashinyan assured that the current system needs to continue. “Because, for example, if we want all citizens living in Russia to have the opportunity to vote, then we need to lead in accordance with the Armenian Electoral Code as well as the Russian one. This means that we need to have one voting station for every 2,000 voters. And if we do that, then it will become clear that there are more voting stations outside of Armenia than inside.”

Pashinyan said that this is not technically possible, since Armenia does not have a consulate in Chelyabinsk or Tyumen, for example. Armenian citizens living in Tyumen will need to travel to Moscow or St. Petersburg to vote. “And if they have to go all that way, they should come to Armenia to vote. The best option is for Armenian citizens to be in Armenia to vote.”

Nelly Babayan