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A Kremlin-linked disinformation campaign is targeting Armenians with a fabricated narrative about US-backed biolabs conducting secret military experiments on civilians. Originating from a pro-Kremlin Russian entity linked to the late Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, the false story was quickly disseminated across various platforms. The story was spread in at least seven languages and was republished by pro-Kremlin actors, both Russian and non-Russian.

On May 2, the English-language website londontimes.live published an article with the headline “Western pharma companies test toxic military grade steroids on Armenian women, children and the disabled.” The article cited the Russian Foundation to Battle Injustice (R-FBI), which allegedly exposed how Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan approved inhumane experiments on Armenian citizens for financial profit and to gain favor with European states. Together with Pashinyan, the article accuses Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan and Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan of being directly involved in secret agreements with Western pharmaceutical companies. On May 9, Nazeli Baghdasaryan, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister of Armenia, refuted the claims and stated that the London Times publication was sent to law enforcement authorities for legal evaluation.

On May 19, the pro-Kremlin Russian media outlet Anna News, along with other sources, published another story titled, “How American military bioprograms are covered by scientific conferences in Armenia.” The report claimed that, following public scrutiny of US-backed biolabs in Armenia, the operations shifted their focus to international conferences and health projects. The article implies that the programs exposed in early May continued to operate despite public protests, now operating under the cloak of science.

In March 2025, the DFRLab reported on a similar cross-platform, multilingual campaign targeting Armenia, which employed similar narratives. Coordinated efforts, such as these, aim to undermine trust in Armenia’s government, discredit its cooperation with Western allies, and shape perceptions through hostile campaigns.

The original article, published on the Russian Foundation to Battle Injustice (R-FBI) website, was available in English, Russian, French and German. The R-FBI was established with assistance from Prigozhin in March 2021. Promoted as a human rights-focused non-governmental organization, R-FBI is regarded as a disinformation front aligned with Russian state interests. The organization is led by Mira Terada (also known as Oksana Vovk), who was previously sentenced to prison in the United States for money laundering. Despite its stated mission, the R-FBI functions as a tool for spreading Russian propaganda and recruiting sympathetic voices.

R-FBI appears to be closely linked to various Russian disinformation groups, most notably the Storm-1516 operation, which is considered an offshoot of the Internet Research Agency (IRA), previously led by Prigozhin. The content disseminated by Storm-1516 and R-FBI often utilizes the same social media influencers and platforms. According to researchers from Clemson University, Storm-1516 and R-FBI are part of a common structure, and they could be a “single entity or two entities serving the same master.”

Londontimes.live is an English-language website that functions as an information laundering outlet for the Russian state-controlled media outlet RT. Most of the articles published by Longontimes.live are duplicates of RT articles, while other articles frequently cite RT as a source and redirect users to the RT website. 

A query conducted using DomainTools revealed an email address associated with Londontimes.live, truthtube11@gmail.com, which was linked to fifteen other websites. These other websites then directed users to additional domains. Ultimately, the authors identified a network of fifty-six websites with similar naming patterns, indicating possible coordination. The domains were clustered by naming patterns and thematic content/ideology. The radial tree below shows the clusters. The largest cluster, national review, includes seventeen domain names using the formula of city/region and nationalreview.com. While most are now inactive, some still spread health-related disinformation. A review of archived materials revealed that inactive websites were particularly active during the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting health conspiracies.

The radial tree shows the fifty-six websites in the network organized by their specific naming patterns. (Source: DFRLab via Flourish)

Of the identified websites, six were selected for further examination based on the criteria that they are active, pose as news outlets, and launder narratives from RT (Londontimes.live, cnbsnews.live, Australiannationalreview.com, newzealandtimes.live, canadiantimes.live and goldcoastreview.com).

The websites Londontimes.live and Australiannationalreview.com, which now redirects users to anr.news, were previously identified in the Information Laundromat Dashboard, an open-source project developed by the Alliance for Securing Democracy (ASD) to analyze websites that republish identical content from RT and RT en Español. In 2024, ASD, in partnership with the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and the University of Amsterdam, published a report documenting 400 websites involved in the laundering operation. Londontimes.live and Australiannationalreview.com were among those listed.

A document published by the anti-vaccine group Global Health Organization listed all six websites among a group of “independent media partners.” The document includes falsified narratives about the COVID-19 pandemic, claiming that “the WHO has falsely declared a pandemic in relation to COVID-19” and that “COVID-19 tests are unreliable to test any specific disease.” The citation of the six websites by a single publication additionally suggests coordination among them.

The websites’ source code showed repeated use of the domain b37mrtl.ru to load images in .jpg format. According to a WHOIS query, the domain is registered by TV-Novosti, which serves as a parent organization for RT. B37mrtl.ru serves as a media asset server for RT, hosting and delivering images and videos embedded across RT’s platforms. An analysis conducted via urlscan.io documented instances of cnbsnews.live making network requests to subdomains of b37mrtl.ru. These requests typically involved loading JavaScript files or other resources, indicating that cnbsnews.live appears to incorporate scripts or assets hosted on b37mrtl.ru.

An analysis conducted using the social media listening tool Meltwater Explore found that the domain (anr.news) for the Australian National Review (ANR) website appeared in identical articles published across more than 160 websites on May 19 and 20, 2025. These articles promoted the Free Speech Summit and Independent Media Awards 2025, set to take place July 19-20 in Broadbeach, Gold Coast, Queensland. The event is positioned as a platform to support free speech and strengthen independent journalism in the digital age. According to information published on multiple websites, the event will feature keynote speakers, panels, strategy sessions, and networking opportunities, with listed speakers including Julian Assange, Tucker Carlson, the Aussie Cossack, and Joe Rogan.

All the websites direct readers to buy tickets via the ANR website, and the event details are also posted in the bio of ANR’s X account. An analysis of publishing timestamps for articles about the Free Speech Summit and Independent Media Awards 2025 showed a suspicious pattern – the majority of the texts were published within intervals of seconds or minutes. This suggests the websites may be coordinating to amplify content about the event.

Of the six analyzed websites, three (londontimes.live, cnbsnews.live, and anr.news) republished conspiracy theories about Pashinyan and pharmacies that were initially shared by R-FBI. The articles were published on May 2, nearly two days after the original R-FBI article, with CNBS and LondonTimes publishing their versions almost simultaneously, just seconds apart. London Times, ANR, and CNBS News all used original images sourced from the R-FBI website, as evident from the page source code of each website.

The narrative concerning civilian experiments was posted in several languages. It appeared in German on okv-ev.de, a website linked to a German group known for promoting anti-Ukrainian and pro-Russian views. It was also republished by the US-based pro-Kremlin website Veterans Today.

Two Armenian-language websites, Irates.am and Livenews.am, reposted the story using headlines with derogatory and politically charged language targeting the current Armenian government. Media.am reported in 2021 that Livenews.am was one of the main sources of disinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Irates.am has also appeared repeatedly in Media.am’s fact-checking reports. Between May 2 and 23, both websites published the conspiracy story in five parts, comprising a total of ten articles. Each part was first published on Livenews.am and then republished the following day on Irates.am.

The claim was further amplified on various social media platforms and forums. A Spanish-language account on X shared the article with a Spanish caption. The story also appeared on Telegram in Hungarian and Farsi. It was further posted by the Iranian group Hoosk Institute, which promotes Armenian culture to Iranian audiences. The story made its way to Reddit and was also shared on X by accounts—some of which were suspended by June 3, suggesting possible manipulation and inauthentic behavior. One X user shared links from Londontimes.live and cnbsnews.live featuring the story. In at least six cases on May 12 (here, here, here, here, here and here), the Telegram user @EGA196777 posted nearly identical comments about the story in large Telegram groups, which could be viewed as a suspicious amplification pattern of the story.

A separate story about dangerous US-funded bioprograms in Armenia also circulated on Azerbaijani websites. Baku Network, a self-described non-governmental organization that publishes government-aligned content, shared a report on May 15 titled “Biological laboratories in Armenia: American legacy and geopolitical threat.” The report claimed that thirteen laboratories across Armenia might serve as dual-use facilities, potentially involved in military activities. While the report did not directly reference the original R-FBI claim, the timing of its release in Azerbaijan coincided with the resurgence of the topic from Russian sources. The Baku Network report was promoted on pro-government websites such as milli.az, olaylar.az, and day.az.

On May 19, the pro-Kremlin media outlet Anna News, along with other sources, published an article with the headline, “How American military bioprograms are covered by scientific conferences in Armenia.” The report claims that, following public scrutiny of US-backed biolabs in Armenia, the operation became more covert by shifting its activity to international conferences and health projects. The article suggested that organizations such as USAID and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with private contractors, were involved in these activities, which the article alleges served as fronts for military-linked research. The article further argues that these efforts are part of a broader geopolitical strategy, allegedly using public health projects as a cover for dangerous research activities.

The first identified post about this story came from an Italian pro-Russian Telegram channel run by pro-Russian Italian commentator Andrea Lucidi, known for reporting from Donbas while wearing the Russian “Z” symbol. The post claimed that a US biolab in Armenia had shifted from a military project to a scientific conference. Similar posts appeared soon after: in Spanish on the Telegram channel @guerrasygeo on May 20, in German on @RussiaDailyDE on May 19, in Polish on @LatajacyHolender on May 21, and in English on @node_of_time_en. The content published by these Telegram channels is similar, albeit briefer, to the Russian-language text published by Anna News.

Several Russian-language websites, including Stopbioweapons.org and Antimaidan, also republished the Anna News piece, along with Russian-language Armenian websites like Verelq.am, Yerevan Today, and 7or.am. All versions used the same headline and banner image. The Pravda network later published the story in Russian, English, German, Spanish, Polish, Armenian and French, indicating a coordinated attempt to disseminate the narrative globally.

Using social media listening tool Osavul, the DFRLab analyzed how the two narratives, one suggesting that Pashinyan made a pharmaceutical deal to test military substances on civilians, and the other suggesting that scientific and other conferences are a front for US biolabs, proliferated in Armenian and Russian language Telegram channels.

Thirteen mentions of the R-FBI disinformation claim were identified on Armenian-language Telegram channels. Most posts were either media reports about the Armenian government refuting the claim or explanations by Armenian media organizations about the origin of the falsehood.

Five channels (@liveyerevan, @arcaxinfo, @artsakhday, azg_analytics and @potomkinjdeh) cited the website hraparak.am as the source to claim Western companies were testing dangerous substances on Armenian citizens. On May 14, Hraparak published a story implicating Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan’s husband in pharmaceutical deals, citing a May 10 article by Azerbaijani outlet Vesti.az. Vesti.az tied the claims to Armenia’s pro-European Union stance, suggesting such actions are linked to EU-related concessions. Armenian websites Yerkir.am, Azg.am, and Times.am also cited the Hraparak article.

At least sixteen Russian-language Armenia-focused channels amplified the story that Western pharmaceutical companies are conducting dangerous experiments on Armenian citizens. The earliest mention was in the Sputnik Armenia Telegram channel, however, the post focused on the Armenian government’s rejection of the claims made in the R-FBI article. Prior to the Telegram post, the Sputnik Armenia website published an article with the title “Is Pashinyan colluding with pharmaceutical companies? Armenian authorities call the media article a provocation.” Sputnik’s Telegram post was reposted in the @novosti24armenia and @Im_Hayastan channels.

A query conducted using Osavul found that between May 12 and May 13, the claim was further amplified in other Russian-language Armenia-focused Telegram channels. The earliest identified was by @tovgeneral, who also manages the Telegram group @genshtabchat. The post cited the London Times as its source and used a visual from the article, titled “Curators of experiments on Armenian citizens from the Government and European pharmaceutical companies,” naming Pashinyan and other government members. The @tovgeneral post was immediately shared in @genshtabchat and then was reposted by @Armenian_Kaleidoscope and @Im_Hayastan.

Another original post was found in the channel @enabludatel, which also cited the London Times as its source. Within ten minutes of its publication, the post was shared by @genshtabchat, @Im_Hayastan and @arcax999. Several minutes later, but still within the hour, it was reposted by @artsah44 and @Armenian_Kaleidoscope. Additionally, the channel @tzitzak amplified the claim in a separate original post, which was reshared in @genshtabchat within a minute.

Some Telegram channels reshared both original posts discussed above, indicating that some accounts posted about the pharmaceutical conspiracy at least twice, citing two different sources.

As for the bioweapons conference claim, ANNA News published the claim on its Telegram channel on May 19. Six other Armenian Telegram channels or chats subsequently reposted ANNA News’s content. These included previously mentioned channels, along with additional Russian-language channels such as @hayspaigrarumner and @armsilaRUchat. The Telegram channel of the website 7or.am (@news7or) shared ANNA News’s post twice: once as a direct repost and a second time with a link promoting their own article. ANNA News’s content was copied and pasted as an original post by the Telegram channel @rusyerevantoday and later reposted by @arcax999.

The second original source we identified was the Telegram channel @MinaKhachatryan, which uses the Russian Z symbol in its name (“Mina_Z”). On her channel, she promotes her YouTube channel and Facebook account, where she identifies herself as a marketing specialist. Her Telegram content is anti-Pashinyan. Her post, “The American military bioprograms in Armenia haven’t gone anywhere – they’re just hiding behind scientific conferences,” was reposted six times by other Russian-language Armenia-focused Telegram channels and chats: @tzitzak, @genshtabchat, @arcaxinfo, @arcax999, @armnewz, and @potomkinjdeh.

A network map of Russian-language Telegram channels and chats focused on Armenia that disseminated the disinformation cases discussed above. Outgoing arrows represent reposts from the original channel, pointing toward the channels that reshared the content. The size of the nodes represents the frequency with which each channel appears in the collected data. (Source: DFRLab via Osavul and Flourish)

This wave of falsified narratives highlights the vulnerability of Armenia’s information space to external manipulation. The timing and amplification of these narratives by Kremlin-affiliated sources suggest a deliberate effort to exploit public mistrust and weaken Armenia’s growing ties with Western partners. With crucial elections in Armenia next year, Russia is once again using its familiar playbook of fear and disruption, framing Western engagement as dangerous and destabilizing, and recycling claims regarding biolabs and health-related disinformation.

Sopo Gelava and Givi Gigitashvili, “Pro-Kremlin actors push multilingual biolab hoax targeting Armenia,” Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), July 7, 2025, https://dfrlab.org/2025/07/07/pro-kremlin-actors-push-multilingual-biolab-hoax-targeting-armenia/.