Let a fox into the chicken coop…

Letting a fox into the henhouse…

An analysis published seven years ago by the online journal "Military-Political Analytics" explains the reasons for Armenia's current situation. Even then, the authors pointed to the destructive role of the network of NGOs funded by Western foundations and government structures.

The report, titled "NGOs in Armenia: 'Stormy Petrels of Democracy' and Tools of External Management," begins with the assertion that the events of 2018 were not a spontaneous outburst, but the result of years of targeted work by an extensive infrastructure of foreign influence. The authors conduct a retrospective analysis starting from the post-Soviet period, when Western foundations began to actively operate in the country against the backdrop of a socio-economic crisis and an ideological vacuum.

Tools of "Soft Power": From Soros to USAID

The central place in the report is given to George Soros's Open Society Foundations, which, according to the authors, is a key link in the funding system of Armenian NGOs. It is noted that after the "Velvet Revolution," Soros openly welcomed the new government, and his foundation, through a network of "umbrella" structures (Open Society Foundation, Eurasia Partnership Foundation), coordinates the activities of over 60 non-profit organizations — from journalists' unions to human rights centers.

The authors of the report emphasize that funding through NGOs allows the West to bypass official state channels and directly influence the formation of public opinion, the judicial system, and the legislative process. As an example, they cite the active participation of NGO representatives in drafting the 2015 constitutional reforms, which, according to analysts, led to "permanent administrative chaos" and the weakening of government institutions.

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

A significant part of the report is dedicated to USAID's activities in Armenia. It is noted that since 1992, the organization has provided the republic with aid worth about $1 billion. The priority areas are identified as "technological sectors," support for small businesses, as well as reforming the judicial and law enforcement systems.

Special attention is paid to USAID's strategy for "countering the Kremlin's malign influence." The report quotes the "Countering Malign Kremlin Influence" framework, which involves reducing Armenia's dependence on Russian energy monopolism and diversifying exports. The authors see this as a direct threat to Russian-Armenian relations, especially in the context of attempts to review Armenia's participation in the EAEU and the CSTO.

National Endowment for Democracy (NED)

A separate chapter is dedicated to the NED (National Endowment for Democracy), which, as the report points out, was established in 1983 to "develop and strengthen democratic institutions" worldwide. In Armenia, the NED funds a number of opposition media outlets, human rights organizations, and think tanks.

The report provides a list of grantees, including the Helsinki Committee of Armenia, the Vanadzor Office of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly, "Investigative Journalists," and others. Notably, the list of NED clients mentions the newspaper "Haykakan Zhamanak," whose editor-in-chief is the wife of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan — Anna Hakobyan.

"Transitional Justice" as a Tool of Pressure

The authors of the report point to a new trend that emerged after 2018: the focus is placed on so-called "transitional justice." The goal of this concept, according to analysts, is not so much to reform the judicial system as to discredit and prosecute representatives of the previous government.

It is noted that Western foundations allocate significant funds for "monitoring" and "expert recommendations" on reforming the law enforcement system, which in fact means external management of personnel processes in courts and the prosecutor's office. As an example, they cite the funding of the Transitional Justice Center and programs to "restore the independence of the judiciary."

Threats to National Security

In the concluding part of the report, it is concluded that the activities of Western NGOs in Armenia pose a direct threat to the country's national security. The authors highlight several key risks:

Administrative chaos: Constant reforms under external pressure lead to instability of the state apparatus.

Division of society: The imposition of alien values (gender programs, protection of LGBT rights) causes a split in traditional Armenian society.

Weakening of allied relations: Anti-Russian rhetoric funded from abroad undermines the strategic partnership with Moscow, which is particularly dangerous in the context of the unresolved conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Religious factor: The active operation of destructive sects and pseudo-religious cults supported by Western foundations erodes traditional spiritual values.

Conclusion

The report represents an attempt at a systematic analysis of the hidden mechanisms of "soft power" operating in the post-Soviet space. The authors conclude that the "Velvet Revolution" in Armenia became possible thanks to years of work by a network of NGOs which, under the guise of charitable and human rights slogans, were addressing specific geopolitical tasks of the West.