Armenia votes as Russia steps up pressure

Voting is under way in Armenia in an election which could decide whether the country continues edging towards the West, or returns to its traditional ally Russia.

Also in today's programme: National Portrait Gallery opens Marilyn Monroe exhibition for her centenary week; and UK research study finds films more likely to star “Chris” or talking animals than women over 60. Award winning actress Juliet Stevenson shares her view on this.

Presenter Krupa Padhy is joined by Hannah Lucinda Smith, a UK-based journalist and author, and Paul Mason, a writer, journalist, and associate fellow at the Council on Geostrategy think tank here in London.

Photo Credit: People visit a polling station during a parliamentary election in Yerevan, Armenia, June 7, 2026. Credit:Reuters/ Ahram Baghdasaryan