DISINFO: Armenia ostentatiously chose to invite pseudo-observers from the EU
SUMMARY
In September 2022, at the request of the Armenian side, an assessment mission of the Secretariat and the CSTO Joint Headquarters was sent to the border areas of the country. Based on the results, a decision was prepared by the CSTO Collective Security Council on the deployment of an observation mission in Armenia.
In return, Yerevan demonstratively chose to invite pseudo-observers from the EU. The well-known facts speak for themselves and leave no doubt about the zero efficiency of their work.
RESPONSE
Recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets attempting to discredit the EU mission in Armenia.
The claim was made in the context of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statement, that Armenia has frozen its participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) because the bloc had failed the country.
Pro-Kremlin media often target the EU mission in Armenia, accusing it of espionage and other suspicious actions, without providing any evidence.
The EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) is a civilian mission that observes and reports on the security situation on the ground, contributes to the security of the people in conflict-affected areas in Armenia, and builds confidence on the ground. Through its presence, EUMA also contributes to ensuring an environment conducive to the normalisation efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan supported by the EU. From the very beginning, this exclusively civilian mission has been fully transparent about its plans to operate from six hubs.
The mission was launched in Armenia in response to a request by Armenia. EUMA conducts routine patrolling and reports on the situation, which strengthens the EU’s understanding of the situation on the ground.
The decision to deploy the EU monitors on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan was made after the September 2022 escalation. The EU has called for and helped a normalisation process. The EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) represents a new phase in the EU’s engagement in the South Caucasus.
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