Violations of reporters' rights outnumber cases of accountability in Armenia, watchdog head says

Violations of journalists’ rights in Armenia are on the rise, while accountability remains low, according to Ashot Melikyan, Chairman of the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression (CPFE).

Speaking to Panorama.am ahead of the roundtable discussion “Challenges to Media Development and Opportunities for Resilience” on Wednesday, Melikyan highlighted an increase in physical violence and pressure against reporters in the first quarter of this year.

He attributed this surge to growing political and societal polarization, particularly in the wake of the 2020 Artsakh war, a divide that has extended into the media landscape.

“The heightened tensions in public discourse often give rise to various forms of pressure and physical violence against journalists, which is deeply alarming,” Melikyan stated.

According to data from the committee, violations against journalists and media outlets significantly outnumber cases where perpetrators are held accountable.

Melikyan also commented on a recent incident involving Civil Contract party MP Andranik Kocharyan, who was criticized for insulting a journalist.

“Kocharyan’s conduct was unbecoming of a member of parliament,” Melikyan said. “None of his justifications bear scrutiny or foster public trust. He should have had the moral courage to apologize, but he did not.”

Melikyan also expressed disappointment that the parliament failed to establish an ethics commission to address such incidents.

“It’s regrettable that the committee lacked the will to act,” he said. “We are advocating for a simplified process to create such a body. Ideally, the parliament should have a standing ethics commission to help prevent such behavior," he said.