The European Union will discuss the situation in Armenia and the country’s upcoming 2026 parliamentary elections at a meeting of EU foreign ministers today, following a formal request from Yerevan for EU assistance in safeguarding the electoral process.
According to Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Armenian authorities have asked the EU to help prevent external interference in the elections. She said ministers will consider what form of support the bloc can provide.
Kallas has previously warned that Russia has intensified its disinformation campaign ahead of Armenia’s 2026 parliamentary vote, raising concerns over hybrid threats aimed at influencing public opinion and destabilizing democratic institutions.
At the same time, according to the opposition, the Armenian authorities led by Nikol Pashinyan continue to imprison and prosecute individuals for speaking out against the government. Those detained include opposition figures, civic activists, and high-ranking clergy. The opposition describes these cases as political repression rather than legitimate law enforcement, arguing that such practices undermine confidence in the electoral process.
Minister of Economy of Armenia Gevorg Papoyan has defended the government’s approach, stating that protecting the country’s democratic system is both normal and necessary. He said Armenia faces hybrid threats, including disinformation and vote-buying schemes financed by wealthy interest groups, and that democracy has an obligation to defend itself with sufficient resources, strength, time, and expertise.
The contrast between Armenia’s request for international support to protect elections and ongoing domestic political prosecutions has become a central point of contention ahead of the 2026 vote, shaping both internal debate and international scrutiny of the country’s democratic trajectory.
