The Russian Foreign Ministry has dismissed allegations linking Moscow to disinformation campaigns and covert operations targeting Armenia ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented on reports cited by EUvsDisinfo and Euronews suggesting that Armenia may have been targeted by information operations involving artificial intelligence tools and bot networks, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.
In a statement, Zakharova rejected the claims, arguing that no so-called “Matryoshka” operation could have produced the video in question. She also dismissed suggestions that artificial intelligence or coordinated bot activity had been used, insisting the footage showed Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan “in the flesh” and calling for an end to what she described as narratives about alleged Kremlin involvement.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also refuted a separate report published by The Insider, which alleged that officers from Russia’s security services had been deployed to Armenia to influence the political environment ahead of the vote.
According to the ministry, the claims were “blatant lies” and a “provocation” intended to pressure Russian diplomats and intimidate Armenian society in the run-up to the elections.
By Sabina Mammadli
