- Category
- Anti-Fake
Russia Deploys Unique Bot Network on X to Influence Armenian Elections
Prefer U24 Media on Google
- Authors
![Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk]( "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
-72b63a4e0c8c475ad81fe3eed3f63729.jpeg "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
Russia has deployed a unique, dedicated bot network on the social media platform X aimed at influencing the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia, the Independent Russian investigative outlet Agentstvo reported on May 29.
Agentstvo cited data from the “Bot Blocker” research project. This is an unusual move for Moscow, which normally reuses its existing bot networks rather than building a new one from scratch for a single event.
We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field.
According to researchers, this is only the second time since tracking began in 2023 that a bespoke, isolated bot ring has been constructed by Russian actors for a single foreign political event. The only other recorded instance occurred during the lead-up to the German Bundestag elections in 2025.
Usually, Russian operations utilize broad, established campaigns such as “Matryoshka” or “Doppelganger” to spread propaganda across various regions, Agentstvo wrote.
The accounts within this newly discovered network were registered over a year ago and remained entirely dormant. Recently, the profiles underwent a coordinated renaming process and began publishing targeted comments within a month of their reactivation.
-fc9ef8cef07151fc00ac8d5ab4df0f51.jpg)
According to Agentstvo, the network communicates in Armenian, Russian, English, and French, with a significant portion of the accounts masking their digital locations to appear as though they are operating from the United States.
AI and diaspora targeting fuel the anti-Pashinyan rhetoric
Analysis by Bot Blocker indicates the campaign relies on a hybrid approach, combining automated accounts powered by artificial intelligence with profiles managed by real human operators. Unlike standard election interference strategies that heavily promote a single pro-Kremlin candidate, this network focuses primarily on degrading political support for current Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Agentstvo noted.
This targeted interference feeds into a rift between Moscow and Yerevan. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has steadily shifted Armenia toward Western integration while freezing its participation in the Russia-led CSTO military alliance.
As Yerevan deepens diplomatic ties with Europe and shows solidarity with Ukraine, Russian leader Vladimir Putin has explicitly warned Armenia that chasing EU membership could trigger a “Ukrainian scenario” of war on its own soil.
The bots distribute supportive content for multiple distinct opposition figures and political alliances without demonstrating an explicit preference for any single faction. The list of promoted entities includes:
Samvel Karapetyan and his “Strong Armenia” movement
Robert Kocharyan and Gagik Tsarukyan’s “Prosperous Armenia” party
Andranik Tevanyan’s “Mother Armenia” alliance
Artur Vanetsyan’s “I Have Honor” coalition
A substantial portion of the digital campaign leverages religious friction, amplifying support for Armenian Orthodox Church Bishop Garegin II, who is currently locked in a high-profile public conflict with the Pashinyan administration, Agentstvo reported.
These bots on X are only one piece of Moscow’s larger campaign against Armenia, Agentsvo writes. Disinformation campaigns targeting Armenia began exceptionally early, tracking back to the autumn of 2025.
The social media operation is running alongside Moscow’s largest trade war against Yerevan in over a decade, as well as covert intelligence operations that previously included a $50 million plan to transport approximately 100,000 Russia-based voters across the border to cast ballots against the current government.
Discuss this article:
-111f0e5095e02c02446ffed57bfb0ab1.jpeg "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
-c439b7bd9030ecf9d5a4287dc361ba31.jpg "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
