Reuters: Kremlin plots to send 100,000 Armenians from Russia to vote against Pashinyan

Russian officials have been discussing a plan to send Armenian citizens living in Russia back home to vote against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in upcoming parliamentary elections, Reuters reports citing four sources. The alleged scheme would mobilize up to 100,000 diaspora voters to support Pashinyan's rivals.

Russian officials have been quietly developing a plan to mobilize Armenian citizens residing in Russia to travel home and cast ballots against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Armenia's upcoming parliamentary elections, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing four separate sources familiar with the discussions.

According to the report, the Kremlin's scheme would involve sending up to 100,000 ethnic Armenians currently living in Russia back to Armenia specifically to vote for opposition candidates and parties competing against Pashinyan's ruling bloc. The scale of such an operation, if carried out, could have a significant impact on the election outcome.

The alleged plan reflects the deepening rift between Moscow and Yerevan that has developed under Pashinyan's leadership. Armenia has in recent years distanced itself from Russia — suspending its participation in the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization and strengthening ties with the European Union and Western partners, moves that have drawn sharp criticism from the Kremlin.

Pashinyan has accused Russia of attempting to destabilize Armenia and interfere in its domestic affairs on multiple occasions. Moscow, in turn, has expressed frustration with what it sees as Armenia's drift toward the West. Reuters has not yet received an official response from the Kremlin regarding the reported election interference plan.