Armenians are voting on Sunday in parliamentary elections as the incumbent government, facing mounting pressure from Russia, seeks to loosen ties with Moscow and deepen cooperation with the West. Speaking to residents, FRANCE 24’s Olivia Bizot said the vote is widely being seen as a “referendum on independence”. One voter described the election as “existential” for Armenia, citing aggressive rhetoric from neighbouring countries. Meanwhile, according to Western intelligence and government officials, Russia has stepped up covert efforts to undermine Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s bid for re-election next month, fearing that a victory could cement the former Soviet republic’s realignment with the West.