Arman Tatoyan addresses letter to EU envoy over election interference

Former Armenian Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan, the prime ministerial candidate of the Wings of Unity party, has addressed a letter to Vassilis Maragos, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, regarding concerns of foreign interference in Armenia’s democratic processes. The full text of the letter is provided below.

"We write to you in connection with the European Union's commitment to countering disinformation and foreign interference in Armenia's democratic processes.

The EU Mission has announced its commitment to addressing Russian influence on electoral integrity, and it is in that same spirit that we bring the following to your attention: an increasing pattern of foreign interference originating from Azerbaijan, which poses a direct threat to Armenia's democratic processes and the security of its voters.

In recent months, there have been multiple documented instances of threats, coercive rhetoric, and coordinated informational pressure linked to actors in Baku. These actions appear designed to intimidate the Armenian population and shape the political environment during a sensitive electoral period. The examples below are illustrative rather than exhaustive, but they share a common pattern: official and state-aligned Azerbaijani voices are directly addressing the outcome of Armenia's elections, making explicit or thinly veiled threats about the consequences of a change in government.

Among the documented cases:

• A member of parliament from Azerbaijan's ruling party issued a public statement warning that an opposition victory in Armenia could prompt Azerbaijan to make formal territorial claims over Armenian territory.

• A Presidential Administration-controlled newspaper suggested that a "revanchist" government in Armenia would have "nothing left to govern."

• A Defense Ministry-controlled outlet stated that it is "particularly important" that power in Armenia remain with forces aligned with Azerbaijan's strategic objectives.

Taken together, these statements constitute a coordinated effort by state-affiliated actors in Baku to influence the outcome of Armenian elections through intimidation.

Novruz Aslan, member of parliament for Azerbaijan's ruling New Azerbaijan Party, interview with Day.az, April 14, 2026: "Perhaps this may sound dramatic, but if Nikol Pashinyan is defeated in the elections, it will not be only the leader of 'Civil Agreement' who suffers a loss, but Armenia and the Armenian people as well. If the pro-Russian opposition comes to power, it is unlikely to amend the Constitution. In that case, Azerbaijan could take reciprocal steps by adding provisions to its Basic Law concerning what it considers historically Azerbaijani lands ... Our neighbors should not forget that they owe us a great deal for the thirty-year occupation and that they live on what we consider to be historically Azerbaijani lands. They should keep this in mind."

"A Game of Survival: Between Peace and Escalation," Bakinski Rabochi, March 25, 2026 (outlet under the control of Azerbaijan's Presidential Administration): "In the event of such a war, the revanchists would have absolutely nothing left to govern, since even the outpost itself would cease to exist."

"Where Does Armenia Begin?", Caliber.az, outlet controlled by Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense: "It is particularly important that power in Armenia remains in the hands of forces capable of bringing the ongoing process to its logical conclusion."

Regrettably, the current Armenian government has not taken adequate steps to defend its citizens or the electoral system from these external pressures, leaving democratic institutions more vulnerable than they should be at this juncture. We also note with concern that certain government messaging has framed the prospect of political change as a path to war, a characterization that, regardless of intent, functions as pressure on voters during an active electoral period and warrants attention in any comprehensive assessment of the information environment.

In light of this, we respectfully urge the European Union Mission to Armenia to take the following actions:

1. Publicly denounce these statements and the broader pattern of interference as unlawful and unacceptable attempts to influence Armenia's electoral process from abroad [Azerbaijan].

2. Expand the scope of existing mechanisms used to counter, as stated by the EU, Russian disinformation so that they also identify, expose, and counteract Azerbaijani interference efforts in a transparent and consistent manner. A principled stance against foreign interference cannot be selective about its origin.

We believe that consistency in defending democratic norms and values, regardless of which external actor is doing the interfering, is essential to maintaining the credibility of democratic institutions and protecting the rights of Armenian voters. We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you or your team to discuss this further and to present additional documentation in support of our concerns."