Armenia has rejected russian aid intended for Nagorno-Karabakh refugees ahead of the 7 June parliamentary elections. The Eurasia organisation, previously linked to interference in Moldova’s 2024 EU referendum, was involved in the planned delivery. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed Yerevan’s rejection, expressing Moscow’s puzzlement.
Two russian non-profit organisations — Russian Humanitarian Mission and Eurasia — along with Russian House (Rossotrudnichestvo), were involved. The ‘main mission’ of Russian House is ‘to strengthen russia’s humanitarian influence’, focusing on the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Sanctioned by the EU after the Ukraine invasion, the organisation has faced accusations of espionage.
In July 2025, russia sent 140 tonnes of humanitarian aid to displaced Armenians, organized by these entities. Zakharova stated Yerevan’s refusal “raises more questions than answers,” citing legal norms restricting donations during the pre-election period. Regulations in Armenia’s electoral code prohibit charitable organisations resembling political parties from operating during the campaign.
She questioned the motivation, suggesting Yerevan’s actions were driven by a pre-election desire to “clean out” mentions of russia. This refusal could be understandable if there were no longer a need for aid, she added. Following Zakharova’s statement, the Armenian fact-checking platform FIP reported that Eurasia, founded in russia in April 2024, was involved in meddling in election processes in Moldova.
FIP noted that the organization’s “humanitarian” initiatives are often a tool of political influence, supported by russian state institutions. The board included high-ranking russian officials and Kremlin propagandists, including Margarita Simonyan. Mika Badalyan, a russian-based blogger of Armenian descent involved in opposition actions, also served on the executive bodies.
The OCCRP revealed in 2024 that Eurasia “paid Moldovans to vote against the EU,” using “humanitarian assistance.” Prior to Armenia’s rejection, the Armenian FIS reported pressure on Armenians abroad to back political parties. An independent observer warned of buses transporting voters from russia for the elections. Critics accuse Pashinyan’s government of a pre-election ploy, increasing salaries and bonuses for state servants ahead of the vote.
The government allocated ֏4.6 billion ($12 million) for remuneration, sparking criticism. This fund, allocated from the state reserve, will be distributed before the elections, according to RFE/RL.
Topics: #russian #aid #elections
Armenia has refused Russian assistance designated for displaced individuals from Nagorno-Karabakh, occurring prior to the upcoming June 7th parliamentary vote. The Eurasia organization, previously ass