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LINKS Europe panel discussion - 'Armenia between a historic summit and a crucial election'

7 May 2026

See the webinar in full on YouTube.

On 6 May 2026, LINKS Europe Foundation hosted an online webinar titled “Armenia between a historic summit and a crucial election.” The event was chaired by Alexandra Dumitrescu, International Coordinator at LINKS Europe, and brought together experts from Yerevan and Brussels to discuss Armenia’s evolving election environment and broader geopolitical developments.

The panel featured Johnny Melikyan, Senior Fellow at the Orbeli Center; Narek Minasyan, Associate Expert at the Armenian Council Research Center; and Amanda Paul, Deputy Head of the Europe in the World Programme and Senior Policy Analyst at the European Policy Centre in Brussels.

The discussion opened with Armenia’s hosting of the 8th European Political Community Summit and the first EU-Armenia Summit in Yerevan. Speakers described these events as significant for Armenia’s visibility in Europe and for its ongoing foreign policy diversification. They discussed Armenia’s deepening cooperation with the European Union, including in areas such as transport, energy, digital connectivity, infrastructure investment, visa liberalisation, democratic reform, and regional connectivity.

The panel then turned to the parliamentary elections scheduled for 7 June 2026, which speakers framed as a decisive moment for Armenia’s democratic development and foreign policy direction. They discussed key electoral dilemmas, including Armenia’s European path versus a return to closer alignment with Russia, democracy versus authoritarian tendencies, and peace with Azerbaijan versus renewed confrontation.

The discussion also addressed external interference, disinformation, cyber threats, and the role of election observation missions. Speakers highlighted the importance of media literacy, institutional resilience, and international support in safeguarding the electoral process. The webinar concluded with a discussion on the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process and the role of regional connectivity initiatives such as TRIPP, including their potential to support stability, economic cooperation, and wider international engagement in the South Caucasus.

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