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Three ethnic Armenians have been elected to the Turkish parliament, according to preliminary results of the June 7 elections, Turkish studies expert Levon Hovsepyan told Panorama.am. They are: Markar Esayan, an Armenian-Turkish journalist for the pro-AKP daily Yeni Şafak, Selina Doğan, from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), and Garo Palyan, who ran for parliament as the second nominee from the HDP’s third election area in Istanbul.

According to the expert, ethnic Armenian MPs will be in Turkey’s parliament for the first time since the 50s.

Mr Hovsepyan noted that the June 7 parliamentary elections are changing the political situation in Turkey. The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party will actively voice numerous issues, including pro-Armenian ones.

“The Turkish MPs of Armenian descent will mostly present the political programs of their parties and therefore I think they are unlikely to have much influence in voicing pro-Armenian issues,” said the expert and added, “It is not excluded, however, that Garo Palyan will be active in the Peoples’ Democratic Party.”

Related: Three ethnic Armenians elected to Turkey’s parliament