Strengthening Armenia's societal resilience to foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) in the context of 2026 parliamentary elections

The 2026 parliamentary elections in Armenia will take place in a complex regional and geopolitical context. The information environment is polarized, and narratives related to the peace process, security issues, and geopolitical choices create fertile ground for external information manipulation and interference. Experience from previous election cycles in the region shows that hybrid threats and coordinated influence activities aimed at shaping public opinion and undermining trust in democratic processes intensify during election periods.

Existing analyses and regional experience suggest that fragmented audiences, young voters, are particularly vulnerable, and the lack of public opinion research and information environment analysis limits the ability to identify vulnerabilities and design targeted, data-driven countermeasures. Civil society organizations and independent media have an important role to play in countering the effects of FIMI, but their monitoring, analysis, and strategic communication capabilities need to be strengthened. The lack of a systematic and coordinated approach increases the risk that manipulative narratives will dominate public debate, especially during election periods. Therefore, it is necessary to create a structured analytical collaboration platform and develop targeted outreach activities that increase awareness and resilience in society.