EU launches Armenia mission over fears of Russia vote meddling

LUXEMBOURG: The EU on Tuesday established a mission to help Armenia tackle foreign interference, as Russia is suspected of conducting a growing wave of disinformation ahead of June elections.
The vote comes at a pivotal time for the south Caucasus nation, as it looks to reorientate its foreign policy away from long-standing ally Moscow toward the West.
“Today, ministers agreed to establish a new EU civilian mission for Armenia. It will strengthen the country’s resilience against massive disinformation campaigns and cyberattacks,” EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas said after a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers.
“When Armenians go to the polls in June, they alone should choose their future.”
Armenia is set to host its first-ever summit with the European Union’s top officials next month, before welcoming leaders from across the continent for a gathering of the European Political Community.
Russia’s influence across the former Soviet Union has been strained since its invasion of Ukraine, which has spooked many of the countries that were for decades ruled by Moscow.
Armenia is formally an ally of Russia but has suspended its participation in a regional security pact over allegations Moscow did not come to its aid in its conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan.
Armenia’s foreign intelligence service said in a report this year that large-scale “malign information operations by external actors” were under way, including the circulation of false information and conspiracy theories aimed at “influencing” the elections.
Analysts are in little doubt about where the campaigns come from and accuse Moscow of seeking to prevent Armenia’s attempt to bolster its ties with the West.