In the winter of 2025, amid recent tensions in Armenian-Russian relations, Armenia made two significant moves towards European integration and strengthening its ties with the United States.
On January 9, the government approved a draft law titled ”On the Initiation of the Process of Accession of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union” which the National Assembly adopted in March. Additionally, on January 15, Armenia and the United States signed the strategic Partnership Charter, which establishes cooperation in defense, security, economic matters, and various other areas.
In light of these developments, Media.am has investigated the propaganda narratives circulating on Russian Telegram channels.
In our research, we gathered data on Russian Telegram channels using the Letsdata monitoring platform. From August 1 to March 1, the platform identified 13 channels that frequently discussed the relationship between Russia and Armenia. We conducted a qualitative thematic analysis based on the content published by these active channels.
Below is a list of 13 channels with their respective subscriber counts as of May 22, 2025:
- Ejdaily.ru (Yozhdeylyru) – 544,600 subscribers
- Злой Пруф️ (Zloy Proof) – 686,400 subscribers
- Прямой Эфир • Новости (Pryamoy Efir) – 5,097,860 subscribers
- Два майора (Dva Mayora) – 1,232,890 subscribers
- Выпускайте КракенаZ! (Vypuskaytse KrakenaZ) – 443,670 subscribers
- Осташко! Важное (Ostashko Vazhnoye) – 410,577 subscribers
- Readovka (Ridovka) – 2,634,030 subscribers
- Рыбарь (Rybar) – 1,263,732 subscribers
- КОНТЕКСТ (Kontekst) – 898,020 subscribers
- Сладков+ (Sladkov+) – 845,311 subscribers
- Друид (Druid) – 130,280 subscribers
- Преемник (Preemnik) – 31,897 subscribers
- Московская прачечная (Moskovskaya Prachechnaya) – 619,630 subscribers
The analysis revealed that Armenian-Russian relations are emphasized on these channels when Armenia makes efforts to strengthen ties with the West.
The distributed materials convey a clear message: cooperation with the West poses a danger to Armenia and leads to its destruction. It suggests that Armenia is following in Ukraine’s footsteps, implying that Azerbaijan may either launch a new war against Armenia or undermine its sovereignty in the future. Additionally, Russia is portrayed as Armenia’s only savior; if Russia were to withdraw, it is claimed that no one else would come to Armenia’s aid.
Adoption of the law on EU integration
The adoption of the law on the initiation of the process of Armenia’s accession to the European Union has sparked significant discussion on Russian Telegram channels. The main points highlighted in these discussions are that Armenia is following a similar path to Ukraine, compromising its sovereignty. Additionally, some state that Nikol Pashinyan is using this topic to divert the public’s attention from other political issues.
Equating the process with the loss of Armenia’s sovereignty, “Druid” noted that the Armenian Prime Minister has become increasingly bold and is attempting to escape Russian influence: “Nikol Pashinyan continues to dismantle Armenia’s sovereignty.
Pashinyan is utilizing this European approach to gradually distance Armenia from Russia, specifically to engage in trade in exchange for economic benefits. Furthermore, the publication points out that Armenia is unlikely to completely break free from Russia’s influence, as pro-Russian sentiments remain strong in the country, particularly among those in positions of power.
“What remarkable stubbornness to repeat the same mistakes of Ukraine,” wrote “Dva Mayora,” adding that Pashinyan’s initiatives are more than ten years behind Ukraine’s “absurd” actions.
“Rybar” suggests that this project offers a chance to mislead the public with false promises, representing the only option that Pashinyan’s government can currently provide to the people of Armenia.
In Yerevan, Pashinyan stands — Cleverest fox among Armenian men. He swims out from the shore, shouting: "Help me, America!"
He lifts his eyes to the sky in plea: "Like Zelensky, I need a penny too!" "Our enemies have conquered us — Uncle Sam, come through!"
Source: “Zloy Proof”
Several channels have ironically discussed the adoption of the European integration initiative. They often emphasize Armenia’s limited economic potential, suggesting that Russia’s withdrawal would not be economically advantageous for Armenia. “Nikol Vovayevich, can you remind me how many EU neighbors Armenia has? With whom do you plan to have ‘free’ trade?” wrote “Vypuskaytse KrakenaZ.”
Development of strategic relations with the United States
Russian telegram channels also wrote ironically about the document on Armenia-US strategic relations. It was assessed only as an opportunity to create a media event by the outgoing administration and nothing more. According to another widely held thesis, the United States is merely strengthening its political position in the South Caucasus.
The parallels with Ukraine have emerged as one of the main narratives: “It turns out that Armenians will be sent to fight for Puerto Rico, while Ukrainians are dying for Greenland.”
“Dva Mayora” wrote that American secret services would soon be present at the border, drawing a parallel to the situation in Ukraine: “…However, American special services will not only hold leadership positions but will also be stationed on the borders of Armenia, advancing American interests rather than those of the Armenian people. We have already witnessed a similar scenario elsewhere.”
Another Telegram channel, “Ostashko Vazhnoye,” citing former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James O’Brien, claimed that by adopting this charter, the US is pursuing its own economic interests. According to O’Brien, “Washington is interested in a trade route that passes through Azerbaijan and Armenia for the countries of Central Asia, aiming to reduce their dependence on Russian and Chinese routes.” Additionally, the channel “Rybar,” referencing O’Brien, highlighted discussions about the “Zangezur Corridor.” It was also noted that the US intends to impose a “peace” plan on Armenia, which aligns with the Turkish and Azerbaijani interests.
The monitored Telegram channels negatively assess the United States’ involvement in Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. They argue that the U.S. is interested in opening the Armenian-Turkish border because it alters the status of the Russian military base, thereby weakening Russia’s influence in the region.
Russian channels are expressing concern about the potential involvement of the United States in the operation of the Armenian nuclear power plant. They argue that the U.S. could strengthen its influence over Armenia’s energy sector, particularly since the contract for operating the nuclear power plant is set to expire next year. In a stable relationship, Rosatom would typically handle the extension of this contract. However, under current circumstances, this responsibility may shift not to French companies but to American ones. As a result, Armenia, by signing the contract, risks falling under a classic “soft power” scheme, which could gradually erode its sovereignty. Notably, the channel misstated the expiration date; the operating nuclear power plant is actually set to remain in service until 2036.
Relations with the CSTO
In the context of one of the main issues in Armenian-Russian relations in recent years — Armenia’s freezing of ties with the CSTO — Russian Telegram channels have continued disseminating a ‘traditional narrative’:. that Armenia has “betrayed” Russia, asserting that “the West will not help when the time comes.”
“Goodbye to the Armenia Pashinyan sold Off”: This is how “Zloy Proof,” with 685,000 subscribers, reacted to the freezing of relations between Armenia and the CSTO. “Meanwhile, in Kazan, Pashinyan is preparing to participate in the BRICS summit and has not yet rejected Russian financial support. Perhaps it’s time to take a tough stance and distance Armenia while seeking closer ties with Georgia, given that reasonable people seem to be in power there. Let Pashinyan seek help from his friend Macron,” the channel states.
“Dva Mayora” predicts that the pro-Western sentiments of Armenia’s ruling elite will ultimately lead to adverse outcomes, stating, “In light of these developments, we can expect NATO instructors to arrive in the country soon, as Yerevan no longer seems particularly concerned about its status in the CSTO.”
Telegram channels highlight that Nikol Pashinyan is consistently pursuing a strategy that undermines Russia through small actions. They state, “The Prime Minister of Armenia is currently working to withdraw Armenia from the CSTO and next will be the EAEU This situation must be addressed urgently; otherwise, Armenia will be lost to Russian influence and market. This cannot be permitted.”
Pashinyan’s statement about the CSTO, in which he described the organization as “creating threats to Armenia’s security,” has been interpreted as a sign of Armenia’s lack of sovereignty. “This situation is reflected not only in the self-destructive decisions made by its leadership but also in the disregard for Yerevan’s perspective by all regional players. Nevertheless, Pashinyan’s team is once again attempting to leverage the CSTO situation as a means to alleviate public pressure and strengthen its position”.
Increasing Turkish-Azerbaijani “Leverage” in Armenia
Russian Telegram channels have been paying particular attention to the increasing influence of Turkey in Armenia. These publications express concern that Russia is losing control over the South Caucasus, which they equate to the disintegration of Armenia.
In September 2024, during a meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan and President Erdogan in New York, the Turkish President presented his book, “A Fairer World Is Possible,” to the Armenian Prime Minister. Citing the Armenian media, the telegram channel “Rybar” reported that this gesture symbolically represented Armenia handing over the keys to the “Caucasian Wall” to Erdogan. It’s important to note that this quote originates from Turkologist Varuzhan Geghamyan, whose post on Telegram was shared by Armenian news websites.
Russian media channels declare that Armenia’s separation from Russia may result in its integration into the Turkish world. “Moskovskaya Prachechnaya” supports this view, suggesting that reconciliation between Armenians and Turks, or Azerbaijanis, is unlikely due to their long-standing animosity spanning centuries. Additionally, claiming “It is more likely that Armenia will become a vassal state of the Turks.”
The spread of “Russophobia” in Armenia
In addition to foreign political developments, Russian Telegram channels are actively reporting on trends in Armenia’s domestic life that are directly or indirectly linked to Russia.
First, there was an active discussion about the new status of Russian as a foreign language in public educational institutions. In particular, “Moskovskaya Prachechnaya” writes, “The change in the academic program regarding the status of Russian will allow schools to determine the number of teaching hours independently.This suggests that some local principals who hold anti-Russian views may reduce the number of Russian language classes and potentially remove them entirely from the curriculum.” In response, “Rybar” argues that the attempt to address the language issue is a classic tactic used by Western agents in the post-Soviet region to sever the cultural ties of former Soviet countries with Russia.
In August 2024, a significant controversy erupted in the Armenian press regarding the newly approved 8th-grade textbook for “Armenian History.” The textbook described the joining of Eastern Armenia into the Russian Empire in 1828 as an “annexation.” This characterization prompted a response from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which opposed the description. Following this, the Armenian Ministry of Education and Science announced plans to revise the textbook. This incident also drew the attention of the monitored channels.
The channel “Rybar” commented on the decision to remove the word “annexation” from the Armenian textbooks. It argued that the Armenian authorities have so far taken limited anti-Russian actions due to fears of potential countermeasures, including economic repercussions. The channel concluded that similar developments should be monitored across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Additionally, it raised the question of whether such comments might reappear in Armenian textbooks in the future.
Russian Telegram channels continue to highlight the installation of a statue of Garegin Nzhdeh in Yerevan, suggesting that Armenia has long embraced “anti-Soviet or anti-Russian” laws. “….The massive statue of the Armenian Legion’s leader, Garegin Nzhdeh, stands in the center of Yerevan — just like Bandera’s statue in Lviv.”
“Dva Mayora” drew parallels between Armenia and Ukraine: “Given the Armenian authorities’ increasing cooperation with the West and their general severance of ties with Russia, the media discussions surrounding the removal of monuments—primarily driven by some marginal neo-Nazi groups—along with the escalating military-technical cooperation with NATO countries, evoke legible comparisons to another former Soviet republic that is currently engulfed in conflict. In a sense, it’s a Caucasian version of Ukraine.”
The controversy around Armenian Brandy
In the fall, the renaming of brandy to “Armenian Brandy” sparked debate. Many channels viewed this as a sign of declining national identity in Armenia, drawing comparisons to the loss of Artsakh.
It is important to note that under the RA-EU “Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership” agreement signed in 2017, Armenia has committed to changing the name of Armenian brandy by 2043. In 2021, it was announced that the EU would provide Armenia with € 3 million to help facilitate the cessation of using the name “cognac” for Armenian brandy. This funding is intended to support the development of a new brand for the Armenian spirit, as well as to advertise and promote its use and distribution.
During a government session on October 30, 2024, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan criticized the continued use of the names “cognac” and “champagne,” remarking that the term “cognac” is often met with a smirk.
This has sparked intense debates about brandy on Russian Telegram channels, with some arguing that Pashinyan is undermining the renowned Armenian brandy industry to appease the French, “Will we buy Armenian brandy? I don’t think so, especially in Europe. Brandy is brandy, and this could ultimately benefit Russian brandy producers.”
Drawing parallels between the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh and brandy, they remarked, “First, Artsakh was handed to the Azerbaijanis, and now cognac to the French.” In its publication titled “Goodbye, Armenian cognac — from now on, it’s brandy instead of ‘Ararat’ for the Armenians.” “Ridovka” emphasizes that in the pursuit of European integration, Armenians are losing their identity, even if the drink is produced using French technology.
In Russian Telegram channels, Armenia’s attempts to strengthen its relationships with the EU and the US were portrayed negatively. These channels often employed a mocking and ironic tone when discussing Armenia in relation to these topics. The content expressed concern over the diminishing influence of Russia in the region and the increasing involvement of alternative powers, such as the US and Turkey, in the South Caucasus. Within this context, the narratives emphasized Russia’s crucial role in Armenia’s survival, suggesting that Russia’s withdrawal from the region would result in a loss of Armenia’s independence.
Russian channels on Telegram have generally suggested that improving relations with the US or the EU will not yield positive outcomes for Armenia, as these entities act solely in their own interests. However, without military, political, and economic cooperation with Russia, Armenia is at risk of irreversible destruction.
