The by-elections were called by the Prime Minister who had been present following the protests over the country’s defeat in the war with Azerbaijan last year.
The poll was opened in Armenia on Sunday in a parliamentary election that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was furious at the country’s victory over Azerbaijan’s arch-enemy.
Pashinyan, who has not been able to file a lawsuit since last year’s military defeat, is hoping to resume his career but is in a bitter rivalry with former President Robert Kocharyan.
His detractors accuse him of disrupting Nagorno-Karabakh’s rural areas into Azerbaijan in a deal that ended last year’s fighting and failed to deliver on its promises.
In a violent contest that was marred by rhetoric, Pashinyan said he expected his Civil Contract party to get 60% of the vote, although some analysts say the estimates are false.
The South Caucasus elections of about three million people will be watched by the Armenian leader of the Soviet Union and Turkey, which supported Azerbaijan in the last six-week war against Nagorno-Karabakh.
Political observers say the results of the by-elections are difficult to predict due to voter turnout and both Pashinyan and Kocharyan have attracted a large number of people in the final days of the election.
In a dangerous meeting those who want the incumbents to start insulting and threatening each other and all those in the lead should protest before the election.
Pashinyan, 46, put a hammer in the rally, while Kocharyan, 66, said he was ready to beat the Prime Minister in a game and said he was preparing to steal votes.
Rory Challands of Al Jazeera who quoted from Yerevan, said people expect that “the two-year election will give the winner some respect and give them five years … how to start a fight. [the country’s] story. ”
However, according to Challands, the conditions are low.
“We have been talking to people who have said that none of the politicians they love are interested in them and they are still deeply saddened by their loss across the country,” added Challands.
‘A Time for Change’
Armenian President Armen Sarkissian, a former chief of staff, condemned the “instigation of hatred and animosity” and called on the police to prevent any atrocities.
“These elections are a difficult process,” he said on Saturday. “It’s very important for our community and the people.”
Pashinyan said he had to ratify the alliance in Moscow and Azerbaijan to prevent further damage to the people and the region.
More than 6,500 people have been killed in the conflict, according to recent figures from Armenia and Azerbaijan.
