YEREVAN, June 8 (Reuters) - Early results from a small number of polling stations showed Armenia's ruling Civil Contract party leading in a parliamentary election with 57.14% of the vote, according to data from Armenia's electoral commission broadcast on public TV.

The data, taken from about 5% of Armenia's polling stations, showed the pro-Russian Strong Armenia alliance in second place, with about 21% of votes. The Armenia Alliance, led by former President Robert Kocharyan, was in third place with roughly 8%.

Sunday's vote, Armenia's first general election since a crushing military defeat by Azerbaijan in 2023, was viewed as a test of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's push to deepen ties with the West and secure a peace deal with Azerbaijan after years of conflict and political turbulence.

Pashinyan's Civil Contract, which has brought Armenia closer to the West since taking power in 2018, squared off against three main pro-Russian opposition parties.

Polls conducted before the vote showed the ruling party leading, backed by up to 32% of voters, with Strong Armenia trailing in second place with up to 11%.

(Reporting by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Edmund Klamann)