Hands off Armenia: Europe must act now to protect Armenia's democracy
With Armenia's parliamentary elections set for 7 June 2026, the European Parliament today adopted a resolution initiated by the Renew Europe Group, calling for urgent action to protect the integrity of the vote.
Armenia is the only democracy in its region. On 26 March 2025, its parliament adopted legislation formally expressing the country's aspiration to join the European Union. That choice carries a price: Russia is already working to undermine it. Disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, illicit political financing and the mobilisation of oligarchic networks are being deployed to destabilise Armenia's democratic process - mirroring tactics used in recent elections in Moldova and Georgia.
The interference goes to the highest level: on 1 April 2026, Vladimir Putin personally pressed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to allow detained Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan to stand in the June elections. Vote-buying attempts have been documented, and Russia is applying direct economic pressure on Armenia to influence the outcome of the vote. Renew Europe condemns these actions in the strongest terms. Armenia's sovereignty is non-negotiable.
"Armenian democracy is a miracle in a region where Armenia stands as an exception. Faced with all those seeking to pressure Armenian voters, the country is looking to the European Union to help it hold free and fair elections. Let us not let it down,"
Nathalie LoiseauRenew Europe MEP, France, Horizons
said Nathalie Loiseau (Horizons, France), Renew shadow rapporteur for this resolution and Chair of the EUDS Committee.
The resolution calls for a robust international observation mission, enhanced cybersecurity for electoral infrastructure, full transparency of campaign financing, and strong safeguards against vote-buying and foreign-funded coercion. It also welcomes the establishment on 21 April 2026 of the EU Partnership Mission in Armenia (EUPM Armenia), which - following the model deployed in Moldova - will provide direct support to Armenian institutions in countering hybrid threats, disinformation and illicit financial flows ahead of the vote.
The upcoming European Political Community Summit on 4 May and the first-ever EU-Armenia Summit on 5 May in Yerevan must be more than symbolic. They are a historic opportunity to send an unambiguous signal of European solidarity and to politically anchor Armenia within Europe through concrete deliverables on connectivity, security and democratic resilience.