In cooperation with the Heinrich Boell Foundation Yerevan Office – South Caucasus Region “Socioscope Societal Research and Consultancy Center” NGO is implementing the “Undermining Pluralist Voices: Scrutinizing Narratives Challenging Civil Society in Armenia Ahead of the 2026 Elections” project.
The project aims to reveal how governmental, non-governmental, political, and public actors in Armenia delegitimize and discredit civil society actors in the context of the upcoming 2026 elections in Armenia.
In cooperation with the Heinrich Boell Foundation Yerevan Office – South Caucasus Region “Socioscope Societal Research and Consultancy Center” NGO is implementing the “Undermining Pluralist Voices: Scrutinizing Narratives Challenging Civil Society in Armenia Ahead of the 2026 Elections” project.
The project aims to reveal how governmental, non-governmental, political, and public actors in Armenia delegitimize and discredit civil society actors in the context of the upcoming 2026 elections in Armenia.
Project Context: Why This Research Matters
In recent years, civil society organizations in Armenia have increasingly become targets of political instrumentalization. Various political actors, both from the governmental forces of the ruling party and opposition circles, and also former civil society representatives, have increasingly sought to instrumentalize civil society for their own agendas, turning it into a tool for political gain. Some attempt to define what civil society “should be” or “should do,” while others seek to appropriate its voice to reinforce their own legitimacy in the public sphere.
These tendencies have been intensified, particularly during the pre-election period, when civil society representatives often become targets of accusations and attacks from actors pursuing different political interests. Such dynamics deepen the existing mistrust between the public and civil society, undermine dialogue, and weaken public participation and solidarity.
The current situation also reveals that the erosion of trust toward civil society is not confined to political institutions alone. It is further shaped and reproduced through narratives promoted by the media, former representatives from civil society, and other actors, contributing to a broader atmosphere of suspicion and polarization.
How the Project Responds: A Comparative and Inclusive Approach
Building upon the previous collaboration between HBS’s Yerevan office of the South Caucasus Region and the “Socioscope” NGO, which explored the transformations of civil society in Armenia after the revolution and the Second Karabakh war, this new initiative takes the research further.
It aims to identify and analyze the main actors targeting civil society, along with the discourses and narratives they articulate, to understand how these shape public perceptions and influence democratic processes. In addition to the Armenian context, the project will include a comparative component by examining experiences from Georgia, Eastern European, and Balkan countries.
The perspectives, needs, and experiences of civil society representatives of all genders throughout the process will be actively considered from participant recruitment for online discussions to expert interviews. Efforts will be made to include people of diverse gender identities as key stakeholders and participants, ensuring that any gender-specific concerns or disparities are addressed in the findings.