Armenia Combats Russian Disinformation Amid Diplomatic Changes, Elections

Armenia has launched a determined effort to counter Russian disinformation as the country navigates a significant shift in its diplomatic alignment and prepares for upcoming elections.

The small South Caucasus nation, historically dependent on Russia for security against neighboring Azerbaijan, has found itself increasingly at odds with Moscow as it pursues closer ties with Western allies. This geopolitical realignment has triggered a wave of Russian-backed information campaigns targeting Armenia’s political landscape.

According to government officials in Yerevan, Russian state media and affiliated outlets have intensified their disinformation efforts in recent months, particularly as Armenia prepares for crucial parliamentary elections scheduled for later this year. These campaigns reportedly aim to undermine public confidence in Armenia’s democratic institutions and fuel skepticism about the country’s tentative steps toward European integration.

“We’re witnessing a coordinated attempt to influence our domestic politics through manipulated narratives and false information,” said Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council, in a statement to local press. “This represents a direct challenge to our sovereignty and democratic processes.”

The tension between Yerevan and Moscow has grown steadily since the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, during which many Armenians felt abandoned by Russia despite their mutual defense agreements. The relationship deteriorated further when Azerbaijan launched a military operation in September 2023 that resulted in the exodus of ethnic Armenians from the disputed region.

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has publicly criticized the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Russian-led military alliance, for failing to provide assistance during these conflicts. In response, his government has pursued security dialogues with Western partners, including the United States and European Union.

“Armenia is recalibrating its foreign policy in light of regional realities,” explained Taline Papazian, an Armenia specialist at Sciences Po University in Paris. “This inevitably creates friction with Russia, which views the South Caucasus as part of its traditional sphere of influence.”

Russian disinformation tactics have reportedly included amplifying divisive political issues, questioning Armenia’s democratic reforms, and casting doubt on the benefits of Western partnerships. Social media platforms have become battlegrounds for competing narratives, with researchers identifying networks of suspicious accounts pushing pro-Russian messaging.

The Armenian government has responded by establishing a specialized task force to monitor and counter foreign information operations. This initiative includes collaboration with civil society organizations to improve media literacy and support independent journalism. Educational programs have been launched in schools and universities to help citizens critically evaluate news sources.

International observers note that Armenia’s experience reflects a broader pattern of Russian information warfare targeting countries seeking to leave Moscow’s orbit. Similar campaigns have been documented in Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova—all former Soviet republics pursuing closer integration with European institutions.

“What we’re seeing in Armenia follows a familiar playbook,” said Jakub Kalenský, senior analyst at the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats. “When countries shift away from Russia’s influence, information operations typically intensify to complicate their democratic processes and foreign policy reorientation.”

The upcoming elections will serve as a critical test of Armenia’s resilience against external influence operations. Political analysts suggest that Russian-backed messaging will likely focus on economic concerns, energy security, and historical ties between the two nations to sway voter sentiment.

For ordinary Armenians, the information landscape has become increasingly complex. Many citizens maintain personal connections to Russia through family, work, or education, making them potentially receptive to Russian narratives. However, polls indicate growing public support for Armenia’s sovereignty and independent foreign policy choices.

“This is ultimately about Armenia’s right to determine its own future,” said Shushan Doydoyan, head of the Freedom of Information Center in Yerevan. “Building information resilience is now as important to our national security as traditional defense measures.”

As Armenia confronts these challenges, its experience highlights the evolving nature of geopolitical competition, where information spaces have become as contested as physical territories in the struggle for regional influence.