Russia is conducting a covert influence campaign against Armenia's pro-Western course - Reuters
Kyiv • UNN
Moscow is preparing disinformation and the transportation of 100,000 voters to influence the elections. The Russian Federation is pressuring Yerevan due to Pashinyan's rapprochement with the US and the West.
Russia has intensified covert efforts aimed at undermining Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's chances for re-election next month, fearing that his victory could solidify the former Soviet republic's reorientation toward the West. Western intelligence and government officials told Reuters about this, UNN reports.
Details
According to interviews with five Western intelligence officials and documents seen by Reuters, Moscow's plans ahead of the June 7 elections include disinformation campaigns in support of pro-Russian candidates, as well as a large-scale scheme to transport tens of thousands of Russian Armenians to influence the voting results.
As the publication notes, Armenia, a landlocked country with a population of about 3 million, has mostly been in Moscow's orbit since the Cold War and hosts Russian troops. At the same time, Prime Minister Pashinyan, who currently leads in the polls, has moved closer to Europe and NATO and has also become an ally of US President Donald Trump.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Yerevan this week, where a mining agreement and an arrangement regarding the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" transport corridor were signed, which could further weaken Russia's influence in the region.
Armenia, which is a member of a Russia-led economic union, suspended its participation in Moscow's regional security alliance in 2024 and hosted the head of NATO at a summit of European leaders this month.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has openly expressed dissatisfaction with Pashinyan's course. In recent days, Moscow has warned of a possible reduction in the supply of cheap natural gas to Armenia and restricted imports of Armenian goods, including fruits, vegetables, flowers, and brandy.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Reuters publication contains false information and "anti-Russian rhetoric." Meanwhile, the Armenian government refused to comment on specific allegations but emphasized measures to counter disinformation and ensure fair elections.
According to sources, the Kremlin is considering the possibility of influencing the vote by organizing the transportation of voters from Russia, which is home to a large Armenian diaspora. It is estimated that it could cost about $50 million to transport 100,000 people.
It is also reported that Russia has intensified online disinformation campaigns against the Pashinyan government, using botnets and Kremlin-linked structures, including the Social Design Agency, which has been sanctioned by the EU and the UK.
According to documents seen by journalists, the campaigns propose creating media for the Armenian diaspora in Russia to promote pro-Russian narratives and shape a negative attitude toward the current government in Armenia.