Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan, during a meeting today with President Vahagn Khachaturyan, said he’ll be taking time off from his government obligations to campaign for his ruling Civil Contract party in the run-up to the June parliamentary election.

Pashinyan, according to his office, said his government is taking steps to ensure the election is free and fair.

Khachaturyan said that elections in Armenia have never been suspected of irregularities since Pashinyan came to power in 2018.

The Armenian president implicitly supported Pashinyan’s bid to remain in power by claiming significant economic progress in Armenia in recent years.

Khachaturyan stated that the foundations of democracy in Armenia will further deepen if all political forces in the country competing in the election adhere to the law and the constitution.