Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has secured reelection in a closely watched parliamentary election, preserving his political mandate to continue peace negotiations with neighboring Azerbaijan and pursue closer ties with the West. While many observers view the result as a rejection of pro-Russian political forces, religious freedom advocates warn that serious concerns remain regarding the Armenian government’s increasingly confrontational relationship with the Armenian Apostolic Church. Preliminary results released by Armenia’s Central Election Commission showed Pashinyan’s Civil Contract Party receiving nearly 50% of the vote, enough to secure a parliamentary majority.