French intelligence assisting Armenian authorities in blocking online  criticism – newspaper reports

ArmInfo.  French intelligence services are actively assisting the current Armenian authorities in blocking online criticism targeted at the government  and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan himself ahead of the parliamentary  elections, Le Journal du Dimanche reports.

"In its fight against 'dissent,' the Armenian authorities are  receiving the active support of French intelligence. Officers from  the special unit VIGINUM track and block online statements that  contradict the official narrative," the publication notes.

According to the newspaper, a corresponding cooperation agreement  in  the field of information policy was signed between the two countries  during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Yerevan.  The  newspaper recalls that when asked by a journalist how Paris's actions  differed from the "interference" in Armenia's affairs of which he had  previously accused Russia, the French leader maintained that it  constituted an open "political position" and "support for a reliable  partner."

"All information compromising Pashinyan now passes through additional  filters installed by French digital security specialists," Le Journal  du Dimanche states.