June: 1, 2026
The crisis in the Armenian-Russian allied relations goes through “extraordinary” diplomatic shifts.
While the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Russia to Armenia Sergey Kopirkin is already in Russia–who has consultations related to the steps of the Armenian leadership aimed at rapprochement with the EU to hold, the RA Ambassador to the Russian Federation Gurgen Arsenyan, who was recently in RA, with an accelerated procedure again left for Moscow.
According to 168.am’s information, against the background of Russia’s recent harsh statements and application of economic sanctions, and the ultimatum presented by EAEU leaders, the RA authorities hastily terminated the so-called “vacation” of Gurgen Arsenyan, worried about possible harsh measures from the Russian side, and sent him back to “find a language”.
His recall to Yerevan “for the purpose of consultations” was formulated as a “vacation”.
Earlier, however, 168.am wrote that after the 8th summit of the European Political Community platform held in Yerevan on May 4, Ambassador Gurgen Arsenyan was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on May 7. He met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin.
“The head of the diplomatic mission was informed about the categorical inadmissibility of providing a “pulpit” to Vladimir Zelensky, the leader of the Nazi regime in Armenia, to make terroristic threats against Russia, within the framework of the latest events under the auspices of the EU,” said the message of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry also stated that during the meeting with the RA ambassador, it was emphasized that Moscow is justly upset in this regard and considers the lack of a proper negative assessment by the official Yerevan to be inconsistent with the partnership nature of Russian-Armenian relations.
According to the report, the ambassador promised to report to Yerevan about the complaint presented by the Russian side.
168.amThe highly reliable sources of “Arsenyan” reported that after Gurgen Arsenyan’s visit to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Arsenyan was called to Armenia for consultations. As it became known later, the RA government formulated this visit as a vacation, but after the drastic political messages and actions of the Russian Federation, it decided not to take further risks and “return” Arsenyan to the diplomatic service in order not to deepen the crisis and to find edges with the Russian side.
Let’s remind that the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, announced today.
“He (Ambassador Kopirkin) is in Moscow and holding consultations.”
—
The death of a conscript soldier adds to Armenia’s non-combat losses.
The body of soldier Aramayis Gevorgyan was found in a military unit in Armenia. Investigators have opened a case of incitement to suicide.
According to the Armenian Ministry of Defense, the body of serviceman Aramayis Gevorgyan was discovered last night at approximately 2:00 AM (1:00 AM Moscow time).
An investigation is underway to fully clarify the circumstances of the incident, the ministry noted today on its Telegram channel.
Armenian Investigative Committee officers have opened a criminal case for inciting a serviceman to suicide, the Investigative Committee’s press service reported.
A preliminary investigation is currently underway, and a forensic examination has been ordered, News.am reported today, citing the department’s press service.
The body of a conscript soldier was found in a military unit in Kapan. The serviceman was from Karabakh; his family had resettled from Lachin. The soldier was scheduled to be demobilized in January and would soon have turned 20, the publication noted in a separate publication, citing sources.
“Caucasian Knot” also reported that human rights activists had previously noted that the rate of non-combat casualties among Armenian soldiers had risen to 90%. They called on the Armenian authorities to pay more attention to preventing crimes and suicides in the army.
The increase in non-combat casualties among military personnel has repeatedly raised questions for the Armenian authorities. The authorities and the ombudsman must address the issue of military deaths in peacetime, the parents of fallen soldiers stated back in November 2023.
In February 2022, participants in a discussion in Yerevan noted that the increase in non-combat casualties in military units indicates systemic problems in the Armenian army. At the same time, according to them, the authorities refuse to involve civil society activists in solving the problem.
We have updated the apps for Android and IOS! We would appreciate criticism and development ideas both in Google Play/App Store and on KU’s social media pages. Without installing a VPN, you can read us on Telegram (in Dagestan, Chechnya, and Ingushetia, with a VPN). Using a VPN, you can continue reading “Caucasian Knot” on the website as usual, and on social networks: Facebook*, Instagram*, “VKontakte”, “Odnoklassniki” and X. You can watch the “Caucasian Knot” video on YouTube. Send messages to +49 157 72317856 on WhatsApp*, to the same number on Telegram, or write to @Caucasian_Knot.
* Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) is banned in Russia.
Translated automatically via Google translate from class=”gmail_default” st1yle=”font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:small”>
—
Eggplants and potatoes from Armenia have been banned from import to Russia.
As reported by the “Caucasian Knot,” Rosselkhoznadzor imposed temporary restrictions on the import of flowers from Armenia starting May 22, 2026, and on fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, herbs, and strawberries starting May 30. In addition, the import of all batches of Armenian mineral water “Jermuk” and certain cognacs and wines to Russia was suspended, and the import of fish from Armenia was significantly restricted. As of June 2, Rosselkhoznadzor extended the ban to fresh grapes and stone fruits, including cherries.
The Russian Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service has again expanded the list of products banned from import from Armenia. As of June 3, the ban has been extended to potatoes, eggplants, pome fruits, and dried fruits.
The agency’s statement notes that the ban applies to both products grown in Armenia and those transported through its territory. The transit of these products to EAEU member states through Russia is also prohibited, according to a statement on the Rosselkhoznadzor website.
The agency once again criticized the structural reforms carried out by the Armenian government in 2019. “The Armenian Ministry of Economy is experiencing structural problems and is failing to fulfill its mandate to oversee agricultural producers,” the publication notes.
Pashinyan promised compensation to farmers
Armenian exporting farmers will receive compensation from the government if their produce is damaged as a result of the bans imposed by Russia, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated.
The promise of compensation was made at a pre-election meeting between Pashinyan and residents of the village of Lchashen in the Gegharkunik region.
“If the peppers spoil, the roses spoil—the government will pay for it. But as a result of all this, both pepper production and export volumes will increase in Armenia,” the news agency “Novosti Armenia” quotes him as saying.
On May 29, a representative of the Armenian Ministry of Economy met with farmers in the village of Arshaluys in the Armavir region, who had blocked the road due to the lack of a market for tomatoes following Russia’s import ban. He recommended them to sell their harvest at special markets in Yerevan. The farmers countered that the journey is time-consuming, and prices are low due to the import of tomatoes from Iran.
Pashinyan noted that only those producers whose products fully meet quality criteria are eligible for compensation for unfair export barriers, while others will be able to count on other types of support.
“We cannot export low-quality products to the detriment of our sovereignty and state interests. We will support these businessmen so that they can bring their products up to new quality standards,” Armenpress quotes the prime minister as saying.
Pashinyan also added that other international partners have expressed interest in Armenian roses, fruits, and vegetables; the government has received offers to supply these goods to new markets.
The June 7 parliamentary elections in Armenia will effectively be a referendum on the future of Nikol Pashinyan’s government and the country’s foreign policy. At stake is the current team’s retention of power or its transfer to the opposition, which promises to reconsider key decisions of recent years, according to the Caucasian Knot report “2026 Elections to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia.” Samvel Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia, along with Robert Kocharyan’s Armenia bloc and Gagik Tsarukyan’s Prosperous Armenia Party, is one of the most pro-Russian parties in the Armenian parliamentary elections. The Kremlin is backing Karapetyan, but he is legally ineligible to participate, Armenian political scientists previously noted.
Farmers have faced problems supplying Armenian produce to Russia before. In August 2025, hundreds of trucks carrying grapes, plums, and peaches were not allowed to enter Russia at the Upper Lars checkpoint and were forced to return to Armenia. This problem is political in nature, said opposition MP Garnik Danielyan.
Translated automatically via Google translate from class=”gmail_default” st1yle=”font-size:small”>
Source: Caucasian Knot
—
Rosselkhoznadzor has extended the import ban to include grapes and stone fruit
As reported by the “Caucasian Knot,” Rosselkhoznadzor (Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance) imposed temporary restrictions on the import of flowers from Armenia starting May 22, 2026, and on fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, herbs, and strawberries starting May 30. Rospotrebnadzor explained the suspension of imports of all batches of Armenian mineral water “Jermuk” to Russia as a “temporary sanitary measure” due to detected excess chemical content. Rosselkhoznadzor also announced a ban on the import of certain cognacs and wines into Russia. Products from Armenia do not meet the phytosanitary requirements of the Eurasian Economic Union and Russia, Rosselkhoznadzor stated. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called such bans common practice, while opposition members saw a political subtext in Russia’s actions.
A representative of the Armenian Ministry of Economy met with farmers in the village of Arshaluys in the Armavir region, who blocked a road due to the lack of a market for tomatoes following Russia’s import ban. He recommended that they sell their harvest at special markets in Yerevan. Farmers countered that the journey is time-consuming, and prices are low due to tomato imports from Iran.
Rosselkhoznadzor (Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance) announced new “temporary restrictions” on fruit and vegetable products from Armenia today, citing “increasing violations in the supply of Armenian fruit.” The agency criticized the reforms implemented in Armenia, which resulted in the abolition of the country’s Ministry of Agriculture and the transfer of its powers to the Ministry of Economy.
“Considering the fact that products recently imported from Armenia do not meet the phytosanitary requirements of the Eurasian Economic Union and Russia, it can be assumed that the Armenian Ministry of Economy is experiencing structural problems and is unable to fulfill the responsibilities vested in it following the abolition of the Ministry of Agriculture,” the agency’s website stated.
Starting June 2, the import ban into Russia applies to fresh grapes, as well as stone fruits: apricots, plums, peaches, nectarines, cherries, and sweet cherries.
Large quantities of tomatoes were intended for shipment to Russia
Farmers who grew tomatoes for the Russian market are calling the sales situation dire. Armenian television channel 5 TV Channel published a report today under the headline: “After the closure of the Russian market, Armenian tomatoes are rotting in greenhouses.” It notes that May and June are the peak season for tomato growers.
Farmer Samvel from Arshalusta, who built a tomato greenhouse with a loan, expressed regret in the report that “tomatoes have depreciated in value and there is no one to buy them.” Previously, it was assumed that the harvested crop would generate a good income, which would be used to pay off the loan, but now he will have to sell the tomatoes cheaply.
Tomatoes were Armenia’s main export to Russia until May 30th; 11,000 tons of tomatoes were exported in 2025, according to Tamara Reshetnikova, CEO of Growth Technologies.
According to her, greenhouses for growing tomatoes have been built in Armenia over the past 7-8 years with the expectation of exporting them to Russia, and now producers need to quickly find another market for their produce—both tomatoes and flowers, particularly roses, carnations, and tulips. “Armenia will suffer much more from the ban than Russia,” Fontanka quoted Reshetnikova as saying on May 30.
The June 7 parliamentary elections in Armenia will effectively be a referendum on the future of Nikol Pashinyan’s government and the country’s foreign policy. At stake is the current team’s retention of power or its transfer to the opposition, which promises to reconsider key decisions of recent years, according to the Caucasian Knot report “2026 Elections to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia.” Samvel Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia, along with Robert Kocharyan’s Armenia bloc and Gagik Tsarukyan’s Prosperous Armenia Party, is one of the most pro-Russian parties in the Armenian parliamentary elections. The Kremlin is counting on Karapetyan, but by law he cannot participate in the elections, Armenian political scientists previously pointed out.
Farmers have faced problems supplying Armenian products to Russia before. In August 2025, hundreds of trucks carrying grapes, plums, and peaches were not allowed to enter Russia at the Upper Lars checkpoint and were forced to return to Armenia. This problem is political in nature, said opposition MP Garnik Danielyan.
Translated automatically via Google translate from class=”gmail_default” st1yle=”font-size:small”>
Source: Caucasian Knot
—
Gyumri residents confirmed reports of pre-election pressure on military base e
“Caucasian Knot” reported that Nikol Pashinyan, speaking at a rally in Gyumri on May 25, promised to take the country’s second city and its development “under his control.” Some city residents expressed concerns for the city’s fate if the Russian base is withdrawn: for example, Karapet Manukyan believes that Pashinyan is “pursuing the wrong policy against Russia.” “I have a store next to a Russian base, and my main clients are Russian military personnel. If he becomes prime minister again, the future of the base will be in serious question. Maybe the Europeans will force Pashinyan to demand the base’s withdrawal. This is a direct blow to the businesses of many Gyumri residents; we depend heavily on them here,” the man said.
Shortly after the start of the election campaign in Armenia, the human rights organizations Union of Informed Citizens and the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office reported that the base was being used to directly influence the electoral process in Armenia. “Armenian citizens working at the 102nd Military Base are being subjected to pressure. Citizens who called us and wished to remain anonymous due to fears of possible persecution by the base command report that they are being directly coerced into voting for a particular political party under threat of dismissal. Moreover, the Russian command allegedly demands that employees extend this pressure to their family members, relatives, and friends, thereby increasing the number of controlled votes,” the human rights activists stated in a statement.
The 102nd Russian military base, stationed in Gyumri, Armenia’s second-largest city, plays a vital economic role for local residents. A “Caucasian Knot” correspondent spoke with base employees and city residents to determine whether the command is indeed interfering in Armenia’s internal affairs.
Khoren Gevorgyan, a civilian employee at the base who works in the canteen, said he was advised to vote against Pashinyan. “No one approached me or told me what to do. But through various conversations, advice, and examples, they seemed to advise me not to vote for Pashinyan because he’s doing a lot against Russia,” he told the “Caucasian Knot.”
Gevorgyan himself also believes Pashinyan is pursuing an anti-Russian policy. “If he’s moving toward the US, that means he’s moving away from Russia. I don’t understand much about politics, but it’s obvious to me,” he noted.
The owner of one of the fitness clubs where military personnel at the base work out also intends to vote against Pashinyan. “70 percent of my clients are Russian. Answer your own question: can I support Pashinyan? I seriously think that if this policy continues, in 5-10 years they will demand the base’s withdrawal. This means I will lose most of my clients,” he told the “Caucasian Knot.”
The 102nd Military Base of the Southern Military District in Gyumri is part of the Russian Forces Group in the Transcaucasus. The agreement with Armenia on the base’s deployment was extended in August 2010 until 2044, according to a “Caucasian Knot” report on the 102nd Russian Military Base.
According to him, Russian military personnel purchase not only monthly subscriptions but also other goods. “We have a massage parlor: only Russians go there; locals don’t spend money on it. During training sessions, only Russians buy freshly squeezed juices and fresh fruit; locals bring their own. These are small things, but my business is built on these small things,” he noted.
Armen Movsisyan, who works as a driver at the 102nd Military Base, confirmed that support for Pashinyan is not welcomed by his employees. “It’s not fashionable here, let’s say; it’s not customary to support him. All the talk and discussions lead to the idea that another Pashinyan term threatens the withdrawal of the Russian base from Armenia. It’s not worth voting for him; everyone understands that. If someone doesn’t understand, they’re told so point-blank,” he told the “Caucasian Knot.”
Movsisyan is convinced that anyone who goes against this general line will lose their job. “If someone goes and votes for Pashinyan, they’ll lose their job. That’s the conclusion I’ve drawn from conversations. No one has said this directly to me or threatened me, but you’d have to be a bit thick not to understand it,” he noted.
Analysts agree with the thesis about Gyumri’s economic dependence on the base
Gyumri is the most pro-Russian city in Armenia, and the majority here is against Pashinyan, according to local journalist Shushan Margaryan. “There were recent municipal elections here, and Pashinyan’s team lost to political forces advocating rapprochement with Russia. This factor, among other things, was the reason people voted against the candidate from Pashinyan’s party, which is generally pro-Western. I believe the parliamentary elections will be no exception, and the opposition will gain more votes here,” she told the “Caucasian Knot.”
The journalist confirmed that the city’s economic dependence on the military base is significant. “I can’t say that without the base, the city will be left with nothing—but hundreds of jobs will be lost, dozens of businesses dependent on the base will definitely close, and hundreds of businesses will lose some of their customers, especially their solvent ones,” Margaryan noted.
EconomistSamvel Markosyan shares these assessments. “The Russian military base is home to 5,000 Russian servicemen, plus civilian personnel, mostly Armenian citizens. There’s no exact data, but it’s at least 500 people. Now imagine they lose their jobs. 500 families will find themselves in a very difficult situation, because they are undoubtedly their families’ source of income. Their salaries are higher than the average for all of Armenia,” he told the “Caucasian Knot.”
Furthermore, businesses created to serve the base will close. “First and foremost, we’re talking about businesses created to serve the needs of military personnel and their families: grocery stores, clothing stores, beauty salons and other personal care services, stores selling military clothing and footwear, and so on—three of them in just one area near the base. A bakery, a cafe, pet stores, shawarma shops—the list goes on and on. And we’re only talking about businesses located near the base and in the part of town where the military lives. The economic dependence isn’t critical, but it’s very, very significant,” he assured.
Political Scientist: Election Interference Must Be Investigated
The pressure exerted by the 102nd Base command on its Armenian employees should be grounds for an investigation, political scientist Harutyun Mkrtchyan believes.
“Human rights activists reported that the base’s leadership is threatening and calling for people not to vote for Pashinyan. Armenian law enforcement agencies should have followed up on these statements and taken appropriate action, as this constitutes direct interference in Armenia’s domestic political processes by a foreign state’s mission in our country. This is direct interference in the election process with the aim of achieving the result Moscow desires,” he told the Caucasian Knot.
According to him, Moscow’s attempts to influence the election outcome are intensifying every day. “On June 1, an investigation was published that shows how Moscow, with the help of pro-Russian blogger Mika Badalyan, is organizing flights for Russians with Armenian passports to Armenia on the eve of the elections. They even gave a precise date: June 4. They are buying tickets for everyone who wants them, meaning they are giving out free round-trip tickets. This is also interference in the elections, which is punishable under Armenian law,” he noted.
Elections to the National Assembly of Armenia will be held on June 7. According to analysts, the parties of Samvel Karapetyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and former President Robert Kocharyan will be key competitors in the elections. Samvel Karapetyan’s “Strong Armenia,” along with Robert Kocharyan’s “Armenia” bloc and Gagik Tsarukyan’s “Prosperous Armenia” party, is one of the most pro-Russian parties in the Armenian parliamentary elections. The “Caucasian Knot” has prepared a report titled “2026 Elections to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia.”
Translated automatically via Google translate from class=”gmail_default” st1yle=”font-size:small”>
Source: class=”gmail_default” st1yle=”font-size:small”>© Caucasian Knot
—
A wave of Russian fake news has swept Armenia’s information space.
Ahead of the parliamentary elections, Armenia has faced a large-scale disinformation campaign: researchers are documenting the use of fake websites, fake videos from well-known media outlets, and pseudo-analysts. Doppelganger, Storm 1516, and Matryoshka, all linked to Russia, are involved in the creation and promotion of this content.
The June elections will effectively be a referendum on the future of the current government and Armenia’s foreign policy, according to the “Caucasian Knot” report “2026 Elections to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia”. According to analysts, the parties of Samvel Karapetyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Robert Kocharyan will be key competitors in the elections. The “Strong Armenia” bloc of businessman Samvel Karapetyan, the “Armenia” bloc of former President Robert Kocharyan, and the “Prosperous Armenia” party of oligarch Gagik Tsarukyan are the most pro-Russian candidates in the upcoming elections. Since spring, the Armenian media has seen a sharp increase in disinformation directed against the government and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The peak occurred in March–May 2026, coinciding with preparations for the elections. The fakes are spread by anonymous Telegram networks, bots, and media outlets associated with both internal opponents and external centers of influence. Since the end of 2025, the bulk of the fake news has focused on elections, corruption, “external control,” and relations with Russia. 1.
The campaign is built around repetitive narratives—from claims of “Western governance of Armenia” and “foreign land acquisition” to claims that Pashinyan is preparing a war with Russia. The fakes are first published on social media and then sent en masse to fact-checkers from identical anonymous Gmail addresses. Fact-checkers attribute this to the pro-Kremlin “Matryoshka” scheme, in which the same material is replicated across multiple platforms. The campaign also spreads deepfakes, including videos calling for violence against Pashinyan.
The logos of Reuters, CNN, Spiegel, and ISW are used to create a convincing narrative. The most common types of disinformation include forged statements and documents, false quotes, manipulative interpretations of foreign policy events, and attempts to discredit government reforms. Activity intensifies during the pre-election period, as is typical of organized disinformation networks. The CivilNetCheck, FIP.am, and AntiDote Telegram platforms regularly publish analyses of such materials.
“Law on the Protection of Islam”
A fake video circulating on X 3 claims that Pashinyan’s government has passed a “Law on the Protection of Islam,” criminalizing criticism of the Prophet Muhammad. Another video claims that, as of November 2025, Azerbaijani businessmen have become shareholders in large Armenian companies. The videos use the logos of CNN, Reuters, Bloomberg, and Euronews. 4.
“The Secret Plan for the Surrender of Syunik”
The PDF document about the alleged “transfer of Syunik” turned out to be a forgery, assembled from fragments of official forms. The fake was spread in anonymous Telegram channels and was accompanied by comments about “betrayal of territories” 5 Later, a video appeared stating that Azerbaijan was going to name the “Zangezur Corridor” after the Aliyev family 6. An English-language video from the Storm-1516 network was also spread on the X social network, claiming that Pashinyan was allegedly allocating tens of millions of drams for the construction of houses for “600,000 Azerbaijanis” 7.
Fake cover of Foreign Policy
The fake Foreign Policy cover featuring Pashinyan uses incorrect fonts, a fake issue number, and an aggressive headline. Inside is a false “report” about Mariam Pashinyan and the theft of $80 million through the Atlix business. The article was distributed by the RussiaNews account on X. The publication denied the publication.
Since May 21, videos with CivilNet logos have been circulating on social media claiming that Pashinyan has been “diagnosed with HIV.” 10. Several sites reprinted this, citing CivilNet, although it never published such information. 11.
“Polls” and “Ratings”
Fake Gallup charts about Pashinyan’s falling rating are one of The most sophisticated propaganda: the brand was used, but the methodology and style were not replicated. The study is not included in the Gallup Armenia or Gallup International databases. In May, a post appeared on Facebook* claiming that The New York Times “rated Pashinyan’s chances low.” The “screenshot” shows visible signs of editing, including Armenian letters. 12. The New York Times did not publish such materials. 13.
At the same time, fake “polls” about support for opposition politicians were distributed, without methodology, sampling, or dates.
Street Polls
CivilNetCheck found that a number of Facebook pages* were publishing identical, AI-generated “polls” with negative comments about politicians – Hayk Marutyan, Vardan Ghukasyan, Gurgen Simonyan, and the “I Am Against Everyone” party. 14 15. At the same time, negative videos about Pashinyan and the “Civil Contract” are circulating, while those about Samvel Karapetyan are predominantly positive. The probability of AI generation exceeds 90%. 16. Earlier in April 2026, fact-checkers uncovered an “army” of fake pages and accounts faking widespread support for one of the prime ministerial candidates, Samvel Karapetyan, and the Strong Armenia party, spreading disinformation about members of the current government. 17.
“Agreements” with Trump
A fabricated screenshot allegedly from US President Donald Trump’s page was circulated on Armenian social media. The post claimed that Trump “agreed with Pashinyan to hand over Armenia’s airspace to the US” in the event Iran refused to comply with the peace agreements. This was also deemed a complete fake 18.
“Accusation of Sexualized Violence”
A fake video was circulated on the X network, claiming that press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan accused Pashinyan of sexualized violence. The video uses the Euronews logo, but neither Euronews nor any Armenian media outlet published such a video. Baghdasaryan denied the video and alleged a coordinated campaign linked to Storm-1516. 19.
*The activities of Meta (which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) are banned in Russia.
Notes
“Quick Look”: How Organized Fake News Networks Are Trying to Infiltrate the Armenian Media Space // civilnet.am, May 11, 2026.
Russian “Matryoshka” Spreads Deepfakes Containing Calls for Murder Pashinyan // civilnet.am, 05.29.2026.
https://x.com/TFMDMIA/status/2027120725107126420?s=20
https://civilnet.am/en/news/1005740
https://t.me/antiDote_tg/253.
https://t.me/antiDote_tg/298
https://fip.am/ru/48947
https://civilnet.am/en/news/1011434
Disinformation campaign targets Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan’s family // Armenpress, 2.04.2026
https://t.me/antiDote_tg/248
Fake news spread on behalf of CivilNet: a fabricated story about Pashinyan’s HIV infection //civilnet.am, May 22, 2026.
https://t.me/antiDote_tg/229
False claim by a US-based analyst // FIP.am, May 18, 2026.
10 fake videos about Armenia in one week: manipulations disguised as authoritative media //
CivilNet, March 2, 2026.
https://t.me/antiDote_tg/255
“An army of fake accounts supports one of the prime minister candidates” – Armenian fact-checkers // JAMnews, 07.04.2025.
Trump did not declare Armenia’s readiness to provide airspace to the US: a fake screenshot is circulating on social media //fip.am, 24.05.2026.
https://t.me/antiDote_tg/272
Source: Caucasian Knot
—
So many people said, “We brought peace”, they brought an end to the economic war in Russia
The economy is what keeps the country. the economy is not governmental or oppositional, the economy is not pro-Russian or pro-Western. Party chairman Gagik Tsarukyan mentioned this in a conversation with journalists during the PAP campaign.
Referring to Russia’s imposition of restrictions on Armenia, he noted that Armenia’s economy is on the verge of collapse today because of these authorities.
“It is the economy that feeds the people. If it is destroyed, what will happen?” The economy either develops, works, or collapses at once. Today we are on the verge of destruction, who will support this people, who will feed them, who will pay off the loans? People will lose their property completely, it cannot be like this. They only talk emptyly that we have alternatives. The alternative is that one was closed, the other is opening, and that is not the case today,” Tsarukyan said.
According to him, they said “we brought peace” so much that they ended the economic war with Russia.
Yesterday, during the campaign in Vanadzor, Tsarukyan also spoke about the youth, our future generation, that they should not be disappointed.
“Young people are the main hope of our country, it is necessary to create such conditions in which the youth will be able to realize themselves in the homeland. The most important thing is that they do not lose confidence in themselves, can live in their homeland with dignity, develop. We must do everything so that they do not break down in front of difficulties, do not fall into despair and do not lose hope,” he emphasized.
More details in the video
—
From June 2, the Russian Federation limits the import of fish products from Armenia
As of June 2, Armenia is suspending veterinary certification of live fish and fish products exported to the Russian Federation for almost all local companies, except for two enterprises that have successfully passed inspections.
According to the Russian side, such a decision was based on the inspections carried out in the Armenian fish processing and trout breeding farms between May 21 and 27. It is noteworthy that exactly half of the Armenian enterprises refused to participate in these inspections, which led to the suspension of export rights until the final settlement of the situation.
The two companies that remain free from the current restrictions will be allowed to continue supplying Russia, but the import of their products will be carried out exclusively under the condition of laboratory monitoring of safety indicators.
In May, Russia restricted the import of a number of goods from Armenia. Among the restrictions are agricultural products, flowers, as well as some wines and cognacs. The Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Maxim Reshetnikov, stated that Russia fills the main volume of these products with its own forces, so the restrictions on Armenia will not have a negative impact on the Russian markets.
—
The police did not allow the mother of the child to convey a “black heart” to Pashinyan
During the pre-election campaign meeting of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Malatia-Sebastia administrative district, the law enforcement officers did not allow local resident Mariam Vardanyan to approach the head of the government to express her complaint.
A woman mourning the loss of her son and searching for her missing grandson tried to convey a symbolic “black heart” to the Prime Minister, as a counterpoint to the official symbolism used during the campaign. The old woman criticized the authorities, claiming that the priority for the country’s leadership is to preserve their own position.
During the incident, some of those present and the police officers tried to obstruct the filming of the journalists, after which the protesting woman was removed from the gathering place.
Recently, in the background of several incidents registered with the participation of the parents of their children and the discussions on the subject of Artsakh, the security measures of the Prime Minister during the meetings have been significantly tightened.
—
Export bans to Russia will be lifted after the elections. Gevorg Papoyan
The authorities of Armenia expect a gradual and quick cancellation of restrictions on the export of local products to Russia after the end of the parliamentary elections.
RA Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan announced in the framework of the pre-election campaign in Yerevan that the Moscow bans are purely technical in nature, and their main addressee is not the Ministry of Economy, but the Food Safety Inspection Body. The minister informed about the meeting held in Astana between his deputy and his Russian colleagues, emphasizing the positive atmosphere of the negotiations.
According to him, all parties tend to solve the problem as soon as possible, which will allow to settle the situation within short deadlines after the end of the voting.
At the same time, Yerevan is simultaneously expanding the geography of foreign trade in order to export to Greece, Germany and other countries. According to the head of the department, new support programs for exports to the European Union and the Middle East are currently being introduced, which include reimbursement of expenses related to transportation, customs duties and intellectual property.
Papoyan noted that the volumes of exports to the EU have already doubled, and by the end of the year, the goal is to quadruple or quintuple that figure.
Earlier, the Russian leadership announced the inevitability of a strategic choice between the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), stressing that rapprochement with Brussels may cause certain problems within the framework of the Eurasian integration union.
The situation worsened at the EAEU summit held in Astana at the end of May, where the member states of the union – Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan – issued a joint statement calling on Yerevan to hold a national referendum in the shortest possible time frame in order to clarify the foreign policy vector. In addition, the partners initiated the preparation of a report on the economic consequences of the possible suspension of Armenia’s membership, which will be presented at the December session of the Higher Eurasian Economic Council.
Despite growing diplomatic pressure, Nikol Pashinyan reaffirmed Armenia’s willingness to continue calm and orderly work in the EAEU until the choice between the two economic blocs becomes inevitable.
—