Armenian press watchdog records fewer pressure incidents in third quarter
The committee reports no physical violence in July–September, but records 12 violations of the right to obtain and share information.
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The committee reports no physical violence in July–September, but records 12 violations of the right to obtain and share information.
Armenia’s Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression recorded no physical violence against journalists or media workers in the third quarter of 2026, following one incident in each of the first two quarters. Other recorded pressure also declined, though violations of information rights continued. Chairman Ashot Melikyan presented the findings on October 23, Azatutyun reported.
| Period | Physical violence | Other pressure |
|---|---|---|
| First quarter | 1 | 22 |
| Second quarter | 1 | 31 |
| Third quarter | 0 | 20 |
The committee also recorded 12 violations of the right to obtain and disseminate information in the third quarter, compared with 18 across the first six months combined.
Melikyan said lawsuits against journalists and media outlets remained a concern. He warned that the number filed this year could approach last year’s near-record total. The figures count lawsuits filed, not findings that the claims were valid or that the litigation was abusive.
| Reporting period | Lawsuits |
|---|---|
| 2026 to date, as reported on October 23 | 44 |
| First nine months of 2025 | 45 |
Melikyan also highlighted security rules adopted before Armenia’s ninth National Assembly began work. He said they retained almost the same restrictions introduced in 2021, when journalists lost access to lawmakers’ offices and lobby areas where they had previously interviewed lawmakers. More than a dozen Armenian journalism and human-rights organisations called for those restrictions to be lifted, but the rules remained unchanged.
In practice, the situation is different, according to Melikyan’s account of journalists accredited to parliament: many say the restrictions are not being enforced and they can work as before. He warned, however, that the rules remain formally in force, leaving open the possibility that they could be enforced.
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