The European Union on Tuesday approved a new civilian mission in Armenia aimed at countering foreign interference, amid concerns that Russia is stepping up disinformation efforts ahead of the country’s June elections.
The move comes at a crucial moment for the South Caucasus nation, which has been gradually shifting its foreign policy away from its long-time ally Moscow and seeking closer ties with 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,” said Kaja Kallas after a meeting of EU foreign ministers. She added that voters should be able to decide their future without outside influence.
The development precedes a landmark period for Armenia, which is set to host its first-ever summit with top European Union officials next month, followed by a gathering of leaders under the European Political Community framework.
Russia’s grip over parts of the former Soviet region has weakened since its invasion of Ukraine, prompting several countries to reassess their strategic alignments. Although Armenia remains formally allied with Moscow, it has paused its participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization, citing dissatisfaction over Russia’s response during its conflict with Azerbaijan.
According to Armenia’s foreign intelligence service, large-scale “malign information operations” are already underway, involving false narratives and conspiracy theories designed to influence the upcoming elections. Analysts widely believe these campaigns originate from Russia, with the aim of undermining Armenia’s efforts to deepen ties with Western partners.
Comments are closed.