“Armenia” Alliance deputies meet International Observatory for Democracy in Armenia (IODA) delegation

(Horizon Weekly / YEREVAN) — Deputies of the “Armenia” parliamentary faction of the National Assembly met on March 11 with representatives of the International Observatory for Democracy in Armenia (IODA), an independent initiative assessing democratic conditions in the country ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7, 2026.

The meeting was led by Seyran Ohanyan, head of the “Armenia” (Hayastan) Alliance, and was attended by faction deputies Anna Grigoryan and Artur Khachatryan.

Welcoming the delegation, Ohanyan emphasized the importance of international engagement in safeguarding democratic processes in Armenia.

“We welcome your visit to Armenia, especially ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections,” Ohanyan said. “We appreciate the involvement of independent observers in electoral processes, as well as the initiative’s activities as an unofficial and non-partisan platform.”

Representatives of the initiative explained that their mission aims to evaluate the democratic environment in Armenia and identify potential challenges that could affect the conduct of free and fair elections.

Kenneth Roth, human rights activist and former executive director of Human Rights Watch, noted that the delegation consists of independent experts focused on human rights and democratic governance.

“We are a group of independent experts engaged in human rights issues. We are in Armenia to understand all the challenges that may hinder the holding of free and fair elections,” Roth said.

According to members of the initiative, their fact-finding mission seeks to assess the country’s democratic conditions ahead of the parliamentary elections.

During the meeting, the Armenia faction deputies responded to questions from the visiting delegation regarding Armenia’s domestic political climate, current political challenges, and potential obstacles that could impact the organization of free and independent elections.

The parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7 are expected to be a significant political test for Armenia’s democratic institutions amid ongoing domestic political tensions and regional security concerns.