On 25 August 2026, Armenian authorities arrested former President and current opposition leader Robert Kocharyan, opposition leader of the Armenia Alliance, following searches of his home, his sons' residences, and businesses linked to his family. Anti-corruption law enforcement officials accused Kocharyan of abuse of office, bribery, money laundering, and the acquisition of state property at below-market prices. The opposition described the proceedings as politically motivated, and the legal proceedings will be closely watched to see whether the claims that the charges are intended to marginalize challengers to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government are warranted. The arrests occurred amid broader concerns regarding investigations and prosecutions of opposition figures that began in the run-up to June 2026 parliamentary elections.

Armenia held parliamentary elections on 7 June 2026 to elect the 105 members of the National Assembly. The ruling Civil Contract Party won 64 seats (61.0 per cent), retaining its parliamentary majority, while the Strong Armenia Alliance secured 29 seats (27.6 per cent) and the Armenia Alliance won 12 seats (11.4 per cent). Voter turnout was 59.0 per cent of eligible voters, an increase from 49.4 per cent from the previous parliamentary elections. The election was conducted under a revised electoral framework that included updated gender quota provisions and other electoral reforms. Women accounted for 37.4 per cent of candidates and won 35.2 per cent of seats (37 of 105 seats) in the new parliament, a decline from 39 per cent. International observers said the election was ‘highly confrontational with divisive rhetoric and marked by allegations of vote-buying and other electoral violations’ that was nonetheless technically and procedurally well-managed. 

Sources: IPU Parline, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, International IDEA

Voter participation increased significantly in Armenia’s 7 June 2026 parliamentary elections. Official results recorded turnout at approximately 58.9 per cent of registered voters, compared to 49.4 and 48.6 per cent in the 2021 and 2018 parliamentary elections, respectively. Observers noted that the comparatively higher turnout in 2026 could be credited foremost to the fact that the 2021 and 2018 polls were snap elections, which had left parties with comparably less time to prepare and campaign. That the atypically competitive campaign season in which the result was highly uncertain likely also was a contributing factor. 

Sources: IPU Parline, International IDEA, Armenian Council 

Armenia’s first universal health insurance system entered into force on 1 January 2026 following the adoption of legislation by parliament in December 2025. The reform establishes mandatory health insurance coverage for all citizens and marks a major expansion of the state’s role in guaranteeing access to healthcare, primarily by reducing financial barriers. Under the new framework, all citizens will be entitled to a standardized package of covered health services, while the government will fully subsidize coverage for several groups, including minors, older persons, and other vulnerable populations. Implementation will occur in phases over three years.

Sources: OC Media, Armenia Ministry of Health 

On 17 December, Parliament approved the Law on Compulsory Medical Insurance, which creates a universal health insurance system that will be gradually expanded to cover all Armenians by 2029. The system will come with an annual fee of ARM 129,600 (USD 340) for most citizens and less for pensioners, children, those with incomes under a certain threshold and other vulnerable groups. The first phase of the program will cover 1.6 million of the country’s 3 million people. However, questions remain about the day-to-day operation of the system, as the state agency or contractor that will implement the health insurance system—overseeing all operational aspects—is still under development.

Sources: Ministry of Health of Armenia, OC Media, Civilnet