Pashinyan seeks EU support to shore up his shaky approval ratings – Pyotr Kolchin

Speaking with Alpha News, political scientist and military expert Pyotr Kolchin commented on the reports that Yerevan has requested from Brussels a “rapid response team to counter hybrid threats” ahead of the parliamentary elections.

“The very publication of such information points to a rather dirty behind-the-scenes game. Apparently, Pashinyan has decided to secure the support of the Europeans. According to critics, the EU already has experience with interference and falsifications—events in Moldova last year are often cited as an example. It seems Brussels could provide Yerevan with a whole arsenal of tools: blocking dissenters on Western social media, aggressive propaganda in European media, various leaks and fake news, and possibly even cyberattacks.

All of this, according to supporters of this view, is being done to shore up the already shaky approval ratings of the prime minister. It is essentially a well-rehearsed scheme—manipulating elections, applying informational pressure, and suppressing dissent,” Kolchin said.

According to the expert, such an information campaign suggests that Pashinyan no longer expects to succeed through honest means.

“Critics believe that pressure, coercion, and the creation of a polished media image without real results are being employed. It appears this is the scenario under which he intends to conduct the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country,” Kolchin concluded.