BRUSSELS — At Armenia’s request, the European Union will deploy a rapid response team ahead of the country’s elections to help counter hybrid threats. This was announced by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.
“Supporting democratic resilience in our region remains a priority. We will not leave Armenia alone in facing external interference,” Kallas said during a press conference following a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.
She also emphasized that democracies under pressure can rely on Europe.
According to a document obtained by Azatutyun, the mission will spend approximately 10–15 days in Armenia. The team will assist the Prime Minister’s Office and the Security Council in developing crisis management plans and procedures for responding to cyberattacks and foreign information manipulation.
Beneficiaries of the assistance will also include the Central Electoral Commission, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and tax authorities.
The European Union believes that Armenia is facing intensified hybrid actions aimed at undermining democratic institutions and public trust. These include foreign disinformation campaigns, cyber threats, and the illicit financing of electoral processes.
“It is highly likely that these threats will escalate ahead of the elections scheduled for June 7, 2026,” the document states.
The document also reveals that Armenia requested EU assistance last November. In January, an EU assessment team visited the country, providing insights into Armenia’s vulnerabilities to hybrid threats, although no specific examples were disclosed.
