Emmanuel Macron has made an unabashed pre-election pitch on behalf of Armenia’s prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, saying the country’s destiny lay with Europe.

The French president also accused Russia of abandoning Armenia after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war that led to Azerbaijan displacing tens of thousands of Armenians.

Pashinyan, who – unlike the leaders of neighbouring Georgia – is increasingly open about his determination to side with Europe, faces a tough challenge to be re-elected next month. Three more pro-Russia or nationalist parties are trying to end his eight-year rule and accuse him of making too many concessions to Azerbaijan in an effort to win peace.

They are also likely to attack Macron for interfering in Armenia internal politics. He was a on a state visit in which he was trying to show that choosing Europe was not a geopolitical theory, but a practical point of departure for ordinary Armenians.

France has one of the largest Armenian expatriate communities in Europe, and Macron has long championed a European path for Yerevan. It was with his encouragement that more than 40 European leaders gathered in Yerevan on Monday under the banner of the European Political Community, a body that brings together EU and non-EU countries. At the first summit between Armenia and EU on Tuesday morning, the bloc offered visa and trade liberalisation.

In his speech to the summit, Macron said: “Many have long thought that Armenia’s destiny is possible only under the patronage of Russia.”

But he said the mass displacement of Armenians in the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh after offensives by Azerbaijan in 2020 and 2023 in which Russia did not intervene showed Moscow’s promise of security was untrue.

“We saw that Russia abandoned Armenia, we understood that greatest dreams are not reality,” he said.

He also expressed hope that this “Armenian moment” with economic growth at 6% would spread across the region.

“I would like the Armenian moment to also become the moment of the entire Caucasus. I have two convictions. First, the South Caucasus should not be an arena for the competition of empires, and second, the region can become a crossroads between Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

“For this, it is necessary to open the borders. I hope that our neighbours will show the same courage as you and follow the path of peace, democracy and prosperity.

“The borders must be fully opened, including with Azerbaijan and Turkey, and they must also operate without restrictions with Georgia.”

More broadly he called for an alliance of independent states to uphold the rule of law. He said lasting peace could not be imposed by the strongest or based on double standards or disrespect for the order established in 1945.

Macron appeared to enjoy popular support as he strolled through the streets of Yerevan. His rendering of Charles Aznavour’s song La Bohème during a state dinner accompanied Pashinyan on drums went viral.