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Aujourd’hui — 5 juillet 2025Flux principal
  • ✇Euromaidan Press
  • Armenia accuses Russian state TV of “hostile propaganda” against its government
    Armenia formally protested to Russia over what it describes as hostile propaganda targeting the Armenian government on Russian state television. The relationship between Russia and Armenia has worsened over the past few years. What was once Moscow’s most reliable ally in the South Caucasus is now actively trying to escape Russian influence. The breaking point came during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. Armenia expected military support from Russia through their defense alliance, but Moscow stayed
     
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✇Euromaidan Press

Armenia accuses Russian state TV of “hostile propaganda” against its government

Par :Vira Kravchuk
5 juillet 2025 à 08:10

Russian propaganda

Armenia formally protested to Russia over what it describes as hostile propaganda targeting the Armenian government on Russian state television.

The relationship between Russia and Armenia has worsened over the past few years. What was once Moscow’s most reliable ally in the South Caucasus is now actively trying to escape Russian influence.

The breaking point came during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. Armenia expected military support from Russia through their defense alliance, but Moscow stayed largely neutral while Azerbaijan, backed by Türkiye, reclaimed most of the disputed territory. Armenians felt abandoned by their supposed protector.

In January 2025, Armenia’s government approved a draft law to begin EU membership proceedings, signaling a shift toward closer Western integration. This represents a complete reversal of Armenia’s traditional alignment with Russia.

Armenia also began sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine in 2023, including medical supplies and equipment. 

Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan confirmed that the Ministry delivered a diplomatic note to the Russian Ambassador expressing “strong dissatisfaction” with coverage on Russian state media channels, Armen Press reports.

According to Badalyan, the Ministry made the note’s contents public because “the issue is of significant concern to Armenian citizens.”

What exactly triggered Armenia’s anger? The note targets “openly unfriendly, often hostile propaganda against the Government of the Republic of Armenia in Russian mass media.” The complaint specifically calls out “offensive language during live broadcasts on Russian state television.”

Here’s where it gets personal. Russian officials criticized Armenia’s recent arrests of alleged coup plotters, with some Russia’s State Duma members calling the crackdown “another unfriendly step by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.”

The dispute stems partly from Armenia’s prosecution of Archbishop Mikael Ajapakhyan, head of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, who faces charges based on making public calls to overthrow the government, particularly for being critical of the minister Pashinyan.

When authorities tried arresting the Archbishop, clergy and supporters clashed with security forces at Echmiadzin Monastery. The crowd blocked the arrest, forcing officers to retreat to prevent a possible escalation. The Archbishop later traveled to Yerevan voluntarily and surrendered to investigators.

Armenia’s response was blunt: How is preventing a coup an unfriendly act? The diplomatic note calls such statements “not only absurd” but “gross interference in the internal affairs of the Republic of Armenia.”

What’s Armenia’s theory? The Foreign Ministry suggests this appears “deliberately pursued to undermine democracy, the rule of law, and the constitutional order in Armenia.” Strong words between supposed allies.

The diplomatic note ends with a demand for Russia to take “immediate and effective measures” to stop what Armenia calls unfriendly actions.

Earlier, Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan said authorities should “seriously consider” banning Russian TV channels entirely.

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