Policy Brief: Countering Foreign Influence Operations in Armenia

Building Democratic Resilience ahead of the June 2026 Elections and Beyond

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor and International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) issued a new policy brief analysing the growing threat of foreign influence operations in Armenia and outlining measures to strengthen democratic resilience ahead of the June 2026 parliamentary elections and beyond. It argues that while immediate electoral safeguards are necessary, Armenia must adopt a long-term, institutional approach to counter an increasingly complex and systemic challenge.

Foreign influence operations in Armenia—primarily driven by Russia—have evolved beyond disinformation into multi-layered strategies including illicit political financing, cyberattacks, economic coercion, and the manipulation of electoral processes. These activities are aimed not only at shaping public opinion but at preserving long-term geopolitical influence over the country.

As Armenia expands cooperation with Western partners, it faces intensified interference efforts that exploit structural vulnerabilities, including economic dependencies, energy reliance, and institutional gaps. Elections provide a particularly fertile environment for such operations, but the threat itself is continuous and adaptive.

While Armenia has an existing legal and regulatory framework relevant to countering interference, enforcement remains inconsistent and under-resourced. At the same time, current mechanisms are not fully equipped to address covert, coordinated, and cross-border forms of influence that often operate below traditional legal thresholds.

This brief emphasises that effective responses should focus on strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing political finance transparency, improving interagency coordination, and fostering structured cooperation with civil society and international partners—while safeguarding democratic freedoms and avoiding disproportionate restrictions on civic space.

Authors provide recommendations to the Government of Armenia, to Armenian Civil Society, and to the European Union and International Partners in this sense.