European Union (EU) Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos has answered to a written question of Aravot. am.
Aravot.am has sent a written question to European Union (EU) Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos about the support which EU will supply to Armenia in countering potential hybrid threats ahead of the parliamentary elections: “European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos announced that the European Union will support Armenia in countering potential hybrid threats ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for the summer of 2026, as well as in strengthening cybersecurity․ EU is ready to allocate 12 million euros to help Armenia effectively combat similar hybrid attacks that may occur ahead of the elections. The €12 million —what exactly is meant by that interference, and who will receive it? What should be done, or what mechanisms should be introduced in the allocation and distribution of this funding, to ensure that it does not become an example of support to the government against the opposition — which could be labeled as “hybrid interference?”.
Aravot.am has got the written answer from EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos as follows: “As mentioned in the Joint press statement following the 6th meeting of the EU-Armenia Partnership Council in December 2025, ‘Both the EU and Armenia reiterated their commitment to human rights, the rule of law, and democratic values. The EU reaffirmed its steadfast support for Armenia’s comprehensive political and economic reform agenda and Armenia’s efforts to counter hybrid threats.’
Armenian people have a sovereign right to determine their country’s future through free and fair elections. Elections are key moments and critical junctures for democracies. At the same time, they are also prime targets for Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), hybrid and cyber-attacks. Malign actors are aiming at distorting democratic processes, weakening institutions and sowing distrust and polarization of the society, preventing citizens from making informed choices.
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The EU supports Armenia’s democratic resilience and ability to make its own sovereign choices. Our support is not tied to a political party and it is not counter-interference, nor any type of interference. We are supporting Armenian democratic institutions to be resilient against interference and to be able to organise free and fair elections. EU support for free and fair elections includes strengthening institutions (for instance the Central Electoral Commission, through our Artemis project), media literacy, and support to CSOs & independent media, all aimed at strengthening Armenia’s democratic resilience and institutional integrity. This work has been ongoing via both regional and bilateral programmes”.
Tatev Harutyunyan
