Ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia, Russia is likely to intensify its information campaigns against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, using theories that portray him as a puppet of the West, a threat to Armenia's security, and a leader leading the country along a Ukrainian-style path, according to the US think tank Stratfor.

As the report notes, Moscow is likely to avoid overt escalation of tension with Pashinyan, which could backfire in terms of fueling anti-Russian sentiment in Armenia, but will use the media, online platforms, Armenian opposition figures, and economic warnings to limit Pashinyan's maneuvering space.

Pashinyan’s victory in the elections on June 7 will not lead to a break in Armenia’s economic ties with Russia, but it will likely accelerate efforts to diversify the country’s relations with the European Union (EU) and the US in the security, diplomatic, and economic spheres.

At the same time, a weak result in the elections or post-election unrest in Armenia will provide Russia with additional opportunities to demonstrate that the course of Armenia’s rapprochement with the EU has a destabilizing nature, Stratfor added.

Source: https://news.am/en/news/1036180