Is it true that the European Union allocated €31 million for the integration of LGBT values ​​in Armenia?

At the beginning of December 2022, Russian-language telegram channels circulated news about significant financial assistance from the EU over the previous year in support of sexual minorities in the South Caucasus republic. We checked if this news is true.

The most popular version of the news was this (spelling preserved):

“The EU allocated 31 million euros for the integration of LGBT values ​​in Armenia.

Civil organizations existing under the auspices of a tolerant EU will be sponsored. For a country with a population of about 3 million people, large-scale pro-LGBT actions, the “British” attitude towards pedophiles and parents with numbers (instead of mom and dad) can undermine mutual respect between Russians and Armenians.

Industrialization in Armenia, industry and other “levers of influence” on Europe in a country neighboring Russia are not needed.”

This text was distributed by the channels "Bullet» (174,000 views), "From the scene» (142,000), "Ostashko! Important» (112,000), "Russian format» (78,000), "Summary" (21,000), etc.

Chronologically, the first channel with this publication was the Ostashko channel! Important”, where the news appeared on December 6 at 18:20 Moscow time. Moreover, it, like some similar posts, was accompanied by a picture with English text:

The news headline in the screenshot translated into Russian looks like this: “Armenia: in 2021, the EU allocated €31 million to support civil society organizations.”

Such news really exists: in particular, on December 5 it with the same illustration posted on the website of the Eastern Partnership, a European Union project to develop integration ties with six countries of the former USSR. The material itself talks about financing a total of 31 projects, as well as additional support for another 140 organizations through subgrant schemes. In terms of areas affected, the text mentions a “wide range of thematic areas” - in particular, 41% of the funds are said to have been allocated to improving the quality of education and skills development. For more detailed information, please go to link to the video release posted on the official page of the EU Delegation to Armenia. It states that “the European Union continues to support civil society in Armenia, focusing on creating an environment conducive to the emergence of civil society organizations, strengthening its role as an advocate and observer on public policy issues.” Next, the figures from the text press release are repeated - more detailed information about the direction of the allocated funds is not provided.

Thus, in the original source of the news, which is obviously referenced in Telegram, there is nothing about LGBT topics. According to World Bank terminology, accepted including at the UN, civil society organizations (CSOs) are “a wide variety of formal and informal organizations: community groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), trade unions, indigenous groups, charities and faith-based organizations, professional associations and foundations.” From review previous activities on this topic, as well as from EU roadmap on issues of interaction with civil society in Armenia for 2021–2027, it follows that funds are allocated, among other things, to the fight against corruption, education, healthcare and environmental protection. Therefore, the statement about €31 million for the integration of LGBT values ​​in Armenia, which has circulated on many Telegram channels, is false in this format.

At the same time, EU funding for the LGBT community in Armenia most likely took place. Thus, in the regional proposal for EU grants (September 2021) for CSOs as one of the possible topics appears protection of the rights of minorities, including LGBT. In addition, one of the donors of the oldest and largest Armenian LGBT organization Pink appears organization ILGA-Europe. Last one in 2021 received from the European Commission €1.2 million for its activities, and with a high probability some share of these funds went to Armenia.

Cover photo: Pinkarmenia.org

Mostly not true

What do our verdicts mean?