Journalists targeted primarily by Armenian government officials in first quarter of 2025, watchdog says

In the first quarter of 2025, a total of 56 violations of the rights of journalists and media outlets were recorded in Armenia, according to a new report released by the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression (CPFE).

The organization recorded two cases of physical violence, 25 incidents of pressure or harassment and 29 violations involving restrictions on access to or dissemination of information. Of the 25 pressure-related cases, 18 were linked to officials.

Government officials also made up the majority of plaintiffs in new lawsuits filed against media workers during the reporting period. Out of 15 new legal claims, 12 were initiated by government bodies or senior officials, further intensifying concerns about the growing legal pressures on Armenia’s media sector.

Journalists reported being subjected to insults, threats and disrespectful conduct, as well as obstruction of their professional activities. In some cases, these incidents were followed by formal legal action. Notably, National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan filed four lawsuits against journalists in this period and was involved in several contentious exchanges with media workers. Other lawmakers, including Andranik Kocharyan and Vilen Gabrielyan, were also named in the report for their inappropriate behavior toward the media.

The two assaults documented by the CPFE occurred in the National Assembly, where security personnel used force against journalists.

Media workers also encountered hostility outside official settings. On March 30, during snap municipal elections in Gyumri, several journalists were harassed by some citizens.

While the report noted a slight decline in violations of the right to information – 29 cases compared to 41 during the same period in 2024 – the overall environment remains troubling. Instances included unjustified denials of information requests (7 cases), delayed responses (1 case), incomplete or vague answers (13 cases), and total non-responses (8 cases).

Among the 15 lawsuits filed during the quarter, 13 were related to defamation and insult, while two were copyright cases initiated by the Photolure news agency.

Beyond legal and physical threats, the report highlighted a major financial blow to Armenia’s independent media, the suspension of operations by major international donors, particularly the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The halt, tied to changes in U.S. government policy, has plunged numerous media outlets and journalist organizations into financial uncertainty, forcing the suspension of several ongoing projects.

Freedom House rated Armenia’s press freedom at 2 out of 4 in its 2025 Freedom in the World report, noting that while independent and investigative journalism continues to exist, much of the country’s print and broadcast media remain tethered to political or commercial interests.