There has been a “tenfold increase” since the start of May in misinformation circulating online in Armenia ahead of the June 7 parliamentary elections, according to Artur Papyan, the director of Armenia’s Media Diversity Institute. Both the ruling party and the opposition – as well as foreign interests – have all been accused of playing a part in this surge, which could have long-lasting consequences for Armenia's democracy.
For years, an Armenian news outlet called MediaNews has been publishing content from fake social media accounts that either support Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan or target opposition parties.
