Since 2022, the Doppelgänger method has been widely used in Europe to clone reputable media websites and spread disinformation through them. Beginning in 2025, similar disinformation campaigns have also been conducted in Armenia, targeting the European Union and the Armenian authorities.
The term “doppelgänger” is of German origin and means “duplicate.” This method involves creating a fake website with a name or domain that closely resembles a well-known, reputable media outlet. However, upon closer inspection, the name may differ by only a single letter. Typically, these websites are used to spread disinformation.
In 2022, the EU Disinfo Lab uncovered a series of websites that were clones of major news outlets. The targeted countries were Germany, the UK, France, and Italy. These cloned sites were disseminating articles and videos filled with misinformation on Facebook and Twitter, while also falsifying the identities of the articles’ authors.
The campaign aimed to reduce support for Ukraine amid Russian aggression, demonize the Ukrainian government, and depict them as corrupt nazis.
Le Monde, The Guardian, and Fox News were used to target the public using the Doppelgänger method.
The EU Disinfo Lab team named the campaign “Doppelgänger.”
The journalists believe the Russian firms Struktura and Social Design Agency (SDA/ASP) ran the campaign.
According to data published by the Bavarian intelligence agency, 7,983 Russian propaganda campaigns were organized using this method on Facebook and X from May 2023 to July 2024.
Doppelgänger in Armenia
Since 2025, Doppelgänger has been actively employed in Armenia.
On June 25, the website Courrierfrance24.fr reported that the French state-owned company Orano is transporting nuclear fuel waste to Armenia, where it will be stored in Dilijan National Park.
According to the article, the first batch of nuclear waste from the French state company arrived in June 2025, following the meeting between Pashinyan and Macron.
The article also claimed that 800,000 euros were transferred twice to the account of the “My Step” charity foundation, which is headed by the Prime Minister’s wife, Anna Hakobyan, using the name of a fictitious French company.
This article was featured in Azerbaijani news outlets with even more compelling headlines. Azerbaijani environmental organizations began warning that with this step, Armenia initiated a new environmental war against Azerbaijan.
Eventually, this information reached the Armenian audience.
The reputable Armenian news outlet Mediamax translated and shared this information, prompting several other news sites to follow(1 2 3). However, after the publication was widely disseminated, Nikol Pashinyan denied the claims in a post on his Facebook page.
Mediamax later removed the article, clarifying that the source, CourrierFrance24, was confused with the reputable news outlet France24.
Days later, on June 30, the Ministry of Environment also issued a disclaimer, stating that the information presented in the article was completely false.
The website that shared the information is now inaccessible; however, the article’s content remains available in the Armenian media.
Pashinyan’s “Marseille Mansion”
On May 30, Armenian media reported that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had allegedly purchased a luxurious mansion in Marseille, France, for 3.1 million euros. The report suggested that Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan may have played a role in facilitating the deal.
The source of the information was the website “Info du Jour”, modeled after the French news outlet of the same name.
“Investigation sources suggest that ‘funds from the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations in France (CCAF) were illegally directed towards Pashinyan’s personal use,’ the article stated.
The information was disseminated by panorama.am, pastinfo.am, azg.am, asekose.am, and other websites.
The article was based entirely on speculation. The photo of the mansion was taken from real estate advertisements.
Later, it was revealed that the mansion was purchased in 2023 for 1.47 million euros, not the 3.1 million euros stated in the article. Additionally, Nikol Pashinyan was not among the owners listed.
FIP.am research shows that the certificate for the infofrancaisedujour.fr website is valid for 90 days. The domain was validated on May 24 and will expire on August 22.
Fake investigation into drug testing in Armenia
On May 2, an article published on the website “London Times” (archive) reported that, with the approval of Nikol Pashinyan, Western pharmaceutical companies have initiated a large-scale program to test new psychotropic substances, steroids, and other potentially dangerous compounds. The goal of this program is to supposedly transform European soldiers into “fearless” fighters.
Nazeli Baghdasaryan, spokesperson for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, denied the existence of “secret agreements with European pharmaceutical companies” that were reportedly linked to Pashinyan and other high-ranking government officials. She mentioned that the publication containing these claims has been forwarded to law enforcement agencies for a legal assessment, following the Prime Minister’s instructions.
Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan emphasized that the drug Pervitin, mentioned in the article, is not registered in Armenia and has never submitted an application for clinical research.”Among the pharmaceutical companies mentioned in the article—STADA, SERVIER, SANOFI, and BAYER—only Servier applied for a clinical trial permit between 2018 and 2025. This application is unrelated to ‘steroids and psychotropic substances’ or the ‘vulnerable groups’ as mentioned in the article,” Avanesyan stated.
How does the EU combat such campaigns?
Anita Hipper, spokesperson for the European Commission on Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in a conversation with media.am stated that 73% of Europeans have encountered disinformation. To combat this, the EU has developed a system based on four principles.
“First, we’re exposing and debunking through the EU versus disinformation platform, which has documented close to 20,000 cases where clone websites are spreading fake news. Then we’re building resilience. We are coordinating within the EU with civil society, we’re promoting media literacy, and we’re supporting journalists at the legal level,” said Anita Hiper.
As for the cooperation with Armenia in the fight against disinformation, Hiper highlighted, ” We’re sharing and supporting the authorities throughout the EU versus disinformation that is tracking close to 20,000 and more Russian disinformation cases. And we’re publishing this in 13 languages, including in Armenia. We’re also supporting independent journalists through the EU for independent media. We’re also providing Armenian-language media literacy tools, including guidelines for teachers and educators on tackling disinformation. We’re also connecting Armenian fact checkers with international peers. ”
Disinformation doppelgänger campaigns demonstrate how easily public opinion can be manipulated and shifted by using the names of trusted media outlets. This issue serves as a reminder that information security is not just the responsibility of the state; it is also a collective responsibility. Media literacy is our best defense against such misinformation.
