Pro-Kremlin Disinformation Campaign Targets Armenia Ahead of Elections

Armenia has been targeted by a large-scale pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign ahead of its June 7 parliamentary elections, according to researchers cited by Euronews.

Analysts say at least 343 fake videos had been published by early May as part of the “Matryoshka” operation, a Russian-linked disinformation network increasingly using artificial intelligence. The campaign promotes false claims that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s pro-European policies could lead Armenia into war with Russia.

Researchers also identified fake videos involving Pashinyan and French President Emmanuel Macron, falsely alleging a secret agreement between the two leaders. Bots on social media platforms, including X, have amplified the claims, though analysts say many of the views appear to have been artificially inflated.

The campaign comes amid deepening EU-Armenia ties, including the first EU-Armenia summit held in Armenia in early May. Researchers say the goal is to discredit pro-Western candidates and reassert Russian influence in the region.

A separate Russian-linked operation, known as Storm-1516, has also spread false narratives about Pashinyan, including claims about campaign financing. Experts say the tactics resemble Russian interference efforts previously seen in Moldova and other countries.