In this week’s update, read about how disinformation has become a central front in Armenia’s strategic shift towards Europe.
THE BIG PICTURE
This week, European leaders gathered in Yerevan in a landmark moment for Armenia’s growing ties with Europe.
Beyond diplomacy and economics, one issue dominated discussions: malign influence operations ahead of pivotal June elections.
VOICES FROM THE FRONTLINE
“Disinformation in Armenia remains a persistent challenge, becoming especially acute during key political moments such as peace negotiations with Azerbaijan and elections,” explained Knarik Mkrtchyan, IWPR Armenia country coordinator.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who has made it clear he intends to pursue a pro-European direction, anticipates tough opposition from pro-Russian forces in the upcoming June 7 vote.
The Kremlin is expected to intensify malign influence operations in an attempt to keep Yerevan within its geopolitical orbit, and Mkrtchyan noted that Armenia was particularly vulnerable to Russia’s sophisticated hybrid tactics.
“Limited public awareness of fact-checking tools and low media literacy often make it difficult for audiences to recognise and verify disinformation,” she said. “It’s also important to highlight that civil society organisations, particularly women-led initiatives, often lack the skills and capacity needed to effectively counter this – so gaps in reliable, accessible information are quickly filled with misleading or fabricated narratives.”
WHY IT MATTERS
This week’s meetings mark a turning point in Armenia’s geopolitical direction. Once closely aligned with Russia, Armenia signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with the EU in 2017, and last year formally declared its intention to apply for membership in the 27-nation bloc.
As well as ongoing pressure from Moscow, the country faces regional tensions with Azerbaijan combined with political turmoil and manipulation.
Last month, the EU approved a new two-year civilian mission for Armenia, designed to counter Russian disinformation, cyberattacks and illicit financial flows. It follows similar support for Moldova, where the success of pro-European forces in last year’s key elections – in no small part due to the efforts of independent media and civil society – shows that Kremlin hybrid tactics can be thwarted.
“Disinformation in Armenia and around the world is not only about false facts; it goes beyond that,” Mkrtchyan said. “It is about shaping public perceptions at moments when public opinion matters most, when it is precisely that opinion which will influence the future.”
THE BOTTOM LINE
The European focus on Armenia reflects a global trend: modern geopolitics is not only fought with armies or economics, but also with information.
By putting foreign manipulation operations high on the agenda, European leaders are acknowledging that protecting truth and trust is central to stability and security.
For more than 25 years, IWPR has supporting independent journalism and civil society across the South Caucasus to strengthen democratic resilience and ensure the free flow of accurate and trustworthy information.
https://iwpr.net/global-voices/armenias-european-pivot
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