EU Monitoring Mission in Armenia Accused of Spying on Russia, Iran, and Azerbaijan

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin has accused the European Union's monitoring mission in Armenia of gathering intelligence against Russia, Iran, and Azerbaijan. In an interview with TASS, Galuzin claimed that the mission, which was invited by Armenia in 2022, is not protecting the borders but rather collecting intelligence under the guise of 'monitoring.'

Galuzin emphasized that Armenia could have mitigated many of the risks it faces today if it had accepted a proposal from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in 2022. The CSTO proposal included measures such as military-technical assistance, sending a monitoring mission, and training border troops to stabilize the situation on the border with Azerbaijan.

Instead, Armenia opted to invite the EU mission, which Galuzin claims is collecting intelligence against Russia, Iran, and Azerbaijan. He stated, 'Unfortunately, the Armenian leadership preferred to invite a European Union mission, which does nothing to protect the borders of the state at all, but collects intelligence against Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia under the guise of 'monitoring.''

Why this matters: The accusations against the EU monitoring mission in Armenia have significant implications for regional security and diplomatic relations between Armenia, Russia, Iran, and Azerbaijan. If true, it could lead to a deterioration in relations and increased tensions in the region.

The EU monitoring mission in Armenia was initiated on January 23, 2023, with an initial deployment of 100 employees. By December 11, 2023, the mission had expanded to 209 people. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has defended the mission, asserting that it provides 'objective' information regarding the border situation with Azerbaijan and has recommended extending its mandate.

The CSTO, a military alliance between several former Soviet states including Armenia, Russia, and Belarus, had proposed a set of measures to stabilize the border situation with Azerbaijan. These measures included military-technical assistance, deploying a monitoring mission, and assistance in training border guards. However, Armenia chose to invite the EU mission instead.

Galuzin's accusations come amid ongoing tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, plus those between Russia and the West. The EU monitoring mission was established to monitor the border situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but Galuzin's claims suggest a different agenda.

To recap, the accusations against the EU monitoring mission in Armenia highlight the complex geopolitical dynamics in the region. The mission, initially intended to stabilize the border situation, is now at the center of allegations of intelligence gathering, raising questions about its true objectives and the broader implications for regional security.

Key Takeaways

• Russia accuses EU monitoring mission in Armenia of gathering intel against Russia, Iran, and Azerbaijan.
• Armenia opted for EU mission over CSTO proposal, which included military-technical assistance and training border troops.
• EU mission expanded from 100 to 209 employees between January and December 2023.
• Armenian PM defends EU mission, citing "objective" information on border situation with Azerbaijan.
• Accusations raise questions about EU mission's true objectives and implications for regional security.