- Articles
As Armenia approaches its parliamentary elections on 7 June, public attention at home and abroad is high. The vote will play a significant role in shaping Armenia’s political direction, while serving as an important measure of public trust in democratic institutions, governance, and reform efforts.
In the lead-up to the elections, this collection of publications provides valuable insights into the country’s evolving political and information environment. Readers are encouraged to explore selected English-language publications by delegates of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum in Armenia to better understand the factors shaping the electoral landscape and the role of civil society in supporting democratic processes.
Brief: Pre-Election Disinformation and Narratives in Armenia
Organisation: Peace Dialogue NGO
Based on ongoing monitoring conducted by Peace Dialogue, the publication explores how disinformation and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) are shaping public discourse through narratives linked to the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh, peace negotiations, Armenia’s relations with Western actors, and perceptions of political leadership. The brief also identifies indicators of coordinated inauthentic behaviour, including networks amplifying synchronised messaging across platforms, highlighting the growing challenges these dynamics pose to democratic resilience and the integrity of Armenia’s information environment.
Policy brief: Countering Foreign Influence Operations in Armenia․ Building Democratic Resilience ahead of the June 2026 Elections and Beyond
Organisations: Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor (HCAV) and International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR)
The publication highlights how interference efforts, primarily driven by Russia, have evolved beyond disinformation into broader tactics such as cyberattacks, illicit political financing, economic coercion, and electoral manipulation. It argues that while immediate electoral safeguards are necessary, Armenia also needs long-term institutional reforms, stronger transparency and coordination mechanisms, and closer cooperation with civil society and international partners to address an increasingly complex and systemic challenge while safeguarding democratic freedoms.
Article: Hybrid Intеrfеrеncе and Dеmocratic Rеsiliеncе: Armеnia’s 2026 Tеst Casе
Organisation: Women & Global Security Architecture (WGSA) NGO
The article examines how disinformation, hybrid influence operations, and public anxieties linked to war, displacement, and ongoing security concerns may affect the electoral environment. Drawing on Armenia’s experience and lessons from Moldova, it explores the role of information manipulation in shaping public trust and political debate, and argues that strengthening institutional credibility, electoral transparency, independent media, and rapid fact-checking mechanisms will be critical to safeguarding democratic resilience.
Interview with Dr. Stepan Grigoryan
Organisation: Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation (ACGRC)
The interview presents an assessment of Armenia’s political trajectory ahead of the parliamentary elections, arguing that the vote will be decisive for either consolidating the country’s peace process with Azerbaijan and its European integration path or allowing domestic polarisation and external influence to disrupt it. It highlights the growing role of Russian state media and affiliated domestic actors in shaping public opinion through disinformation and fear-based narratives, particularly around border demarcation and peace negotiations, which are portrayed as “surrenders” in order to weaken public trust in the process. Despite these challenges, the outlook remains cautiously optimistic that Armenia’s peace process and EU-oriented course will continue.
