Armenian PM accuses opposition of waging "hybrid war" against democracy

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has accused opposition forces of orchestrating a campaign of misinformation, which he described as a “hybrid war against democracy.”

According to Russian media, Pashinyan made the remarks during his address to the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

“The forces that were in power until 2018 control most of the media and spread misinformation to protect their illegally acquired property,” the prime minister said. He warned that this situation “creates the impression that democracy is not protected.”

Pashinyan stressed that the problem must be resolved within the framework of norms adopted by PACE in order to avoid any perception that freedom of speech is being restricted in Armenia.

This is not the first time Pashinyan has raised the notion of a “hybrid war” being waged against his government. He has previously suggested that such efforts are financed both domestically and from abroad.

Meanwhile, opposition forces have countered these accusations, insisting that it is the government itself that plays the leading role in spreading disinformation and hatred within the country. They allege that state funds are being used to promote government narratives across Armenia.

By Tamilla Hasanova