Nikol Pashinyan, 43, Former journalist-turned-politician raised to power hopes for an economic transformation and democratic parliamentary elections.

He is still very popular however, few doubt that his My Step Alliance will come on top among the 11 parties and political blocs in the vote.

Pashinyan force opposition parties to sign that they will not put forward a candidate or prime minister

Mr Pashinyan had initially promised there would be no political vendetta, but he then went after former political leaders and their relatives.
Charges were brought against ex-President Robert Kocharyan for his role in post-election violence in 2008, in which 10 people were killed.

Pashinyan’s critics say the early vote puts many parties at a disadvantage.”All political parties were deprived of time to prepare well for the elections,”

At one rally Mr Pashinyan said he would “grab them by the throat” – referring to Republican Party loyalists – and “throw them out of office”.

Mr Pashinyan uses regular Facebook live broadcasts to come across as an accessible politician. but refuse to debate one on one

Russia is sensitive to so-called revolutions anywhere in the former Soviet Union. It maintains a military base in Armenia and is watching developments closely.