PACE emphasizes the importance of conducting parliamentary elections  in Armenia in an environment free from fear, foreign influence, and   misuse of administrative resources

ArmInfo.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, and the misuse of administrative  resources. 

The PACE statement reads as follows: '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 the 7 June 2026 elections  alongside observers from ODIHR, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and  the European Parliament."