DISINFO: Pashinyan turned Armenia into a NATO colony
SUMMARY
Pashinyan made Armenia a colony of NATO, primarily of France. France almost lost its colonial power in Africa and is trying to somehow compensate and harm Russia.
It is especially cynical to talk about the status of a candidate now, when the European Union has been collapsing for a long time, when the European Union is only a political corner of NATO, and when the European Union is actually in a serious recession.
This is a continuation of the Western colonial invasion of Armenia and nothing more.
RESPONSE
A mix of several recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives, accusing the West/NATO of carrying out a neocolonial policy, demonising France, including allegations of obstructing peace in the South Caucasus, portraying Armenia as a puppet of the West/NATO, and narratives about the alleged disintegration of the EU, the EU’s lost sovereignty. The narrative of "the imminent collapse" is a Kremlin classic - see here.
The Kremlin regime has long sought to publicly style itself as anti-imperialist and anti-colonialist. However, Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine exposed Russia’s own imperial and colonial ambitions vis-à-vis its neighbours in Europe, Caucasus, and Asia.
The claim was made in the context of the EP resolution adopted on 12 March, "on closer ties between the EU and Armenia and the need for a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia." In particular, the resolution said, "Should Armenia be interested in applying for candidate status and continuing on its path of sustained reforms consolidating its democracy, this could set the stage for a transformative phase in EU-Armenia relations."
Armenia became a frequent target of Kremlin propaganda for its closer political cooperation with the EU, military cooperation with several member states, deployment of the EU civilian mission in the territory of Armenia, and several other actions, like ratification of the Rome statute, and freezing membership in CSTO, etc. Pro-Kremlin media accusing Armenia of unfriendly moves, flirting with Western countries, and changing its geopolitical orientation.
Pro-Kremlin media promote the idea that Armenia is exclusively within Russia's zone of geopolitical dominance, and Russia has cautioned Yerevan that the West is trying to drive a wedge between Armenia and Russia.
Armenia has been a sovereign and independent state since 1991 when it proclaimed its independence from the former USSR. As a sovereign state, Armenia is free to decide its foreign policy and alliances.
Read other similar cases in our database: Armenia is being turned into a tool for implementing dangerous Western plans; NATO wants to open a second front against Russia in the South Caucasus; Pashinyan is a Western tool to squeeze Russia out of the South Caucasus; CIA and MI6 changed power in Armenia to oust Russia from the region; Armenia is under Anglo-American occupation.