UK Sanctions Organizations Accused of Planning Regime Change in Armenia in Favor of Pro-Russian Figures

LONDON — The UK government on May 11 accused Russia of attempting to interfere in Armenia’s domestic politics and upcoming elections as part of a broad new sanctions package targeting what London described as hostile Kremlin activities abroad.

The British government announced sanctions against 85 individuals and entities linked to Russian influence operations and the deportation of Ukrainian children, including organizations allegedly involved in political interference in Armenia.

According to the UK government, one of the sanctioned organizations, the Moscow-based Social Design Agency, allegedly planned campaigns aimed at creating pro-Russian organizations in Armenia and orchestrating regime change in favor of pro-Russian political figures.

Another Russian organization targeted by the sanctions, ANO Dialog, was accused by London of coordinating efforts to interfere in Armenia’s domestic politics in cooperation with Russian intelligence services.

The Russian Embassy in London quickly responded to the British government’s announcement, dismissing the accusations as “absurd.”

“The neo-colonial policies of London, which previously led to a coup in Kyiv, are now targeting Armenia,” the embassy said in a statement. “The West itself must stop interfering in the affairs of sovereign states, as recently occurred in Moldova and Romania. The thief cries first: ‘Catch the thief.’”

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the sanctions were intended to counter Russian efforts to “interfere and undermine democracy.”