Following a two-day visit to Yerevan on 11 and 12 May 2026, a pre-electoral delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has emphasised the importance of conducting the 7 June 2026 parliamentary elections in an environment free from fear, undue foreign influence and misuse of administrative resources.
The delegation
expressed concern over the increasingly complex and systemic nature of foreign interference affecting Armenia’s political and information landscape.
The delegation heard that foreign interference has evolved beyond traditional disinformation, now encompassing illicit political financing, cyberattacks, economic coercion and direct attempts to manipulate the electoral process. These hybrid tactics aim not only to sway public opinion but to secure long-term geopolitical leverage over Armenia.
The delegation was told about direct explicit requests from the Russian President to the Armenian Prime Minister to facilitate the voting of the Armenian diaspora from Russia and of encouragements of a financial nature proposed by the main opposition party to this particular branch of the diaspora to travel to Armenia and vote on election day.
The delegation highlighted that such interference constitutes a continuous and adaptive threat, extending well beyond the election period.
The delegation also noted the declarative support given by certain Western partners to the ruling party.
The delegation welcomes Armenia’s legal and regulatory framework to counter undue influence. However, existing mechanisms would benefit from reinforcement to address covert, co-ordinated and cross-border threats. The delegation feels that strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing inter-agency co-ordination and increasing transparency in political finance are all urgently needed.
Looking at the broader pre-electoral environment, the delegation also expressed concern about intensified disinformation targeting human rights defenders, journalists and civil society organisations. Narratives such as accusations of being a “foreign agent” jeopardise public trust and restrict the civic space. The delegation heard reports of co-ordinated inauthentic activity and manipulative social media content and hoped that technology companies will take stronger action against such campaigns.
The delegation is also concerned by the increasing legal pressures, including strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), which target civil society, journalists and election observers. These tactics risk chilling free expression and deterring democratic participation. The delegation stressed that a vibrant, independent civil society is essential for democratic elections and must be protected from intimidation.
Further issues of concern include growing political polarisation, low public trust in institutions and a general lack of interest in politics, in particular from the young generation. The delegation heard about harsh campaign rhetoric and allegations of misuse of administrative resources, voter pressure, unregulated third-party campaigning, and vote-buying (sometimes disguised as charity).
The unprecedented implication of the Armenian Apostolic Church in politics has also been noted by the delegation.
Transparency and accountability in campaign finance remain critical, especially in view of recent legislative changes that have raised donation limits without fully addressing oversight gaps.
The delegation underscored that safeguarding electoral integrity requires collaboration among national authorities, civil society and international partners, as well as responsible action by digital platforms. It welcomed the constructive co-operation of Armenian authorities and stakeholders ahead of the 7 June 2026 elections, recognising the vote's importance for Armenia’s democratic and geopolitical trajectory, especially amid ongoing peace efforts and regional transformation.
The delegation heard allegations of double standards in the justice system, the representatives of the opposition complaining about a large number of politicians and members of the clergy under investigation or on house arrest further to justice decisions.
During its visit, the delegation met with the Vice-President of the National Assembly, members of Armenia’s PACE delegation, the leaders of parliamentary and extra-parliamentary parties, the Deputy Minister of Justice, the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Committee, the Chairman and other representatives of the Information Systems Agency, the President and members of the Central Election Commission, the Head and Deputy Head of Mission of the OSCE’s ODIHR and members of the diplomatic corps in Yerevan, as well as representatives of the media and civil society.
The delegation acknowledged the Central Election Commission’s efforts, such as training and partnering with the Information Systems Agency, to enhance cybersecurity.
In the short time before election day, the PACE delegation urges Armenian authorities to intensify efforts to protect against foreign interference and ensure a level playing field for all contestants. It encourages civil society organisations to continue their vital role in monitoring, reporting and promoting democratic standards.
PACE will deploy a fully-fledged election observation mission to observe 7 June 2026 elections alongside observers from ODIHR, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the European Parliament.
