The monitoring data for the first quarter of 2025 indicates that in the overwhelming majority of cases-18 out of 25-various acts of pressure against media and journalists were committed by government representatives. It is noteworthy that government representatives also dominated among those filing lawsuits against journalists and media. In the period under review, 12 out of 15 new lawsuits were filed by state bodies and high-ranking officials.
Pressures against journalists have largely taken the form of indecent behavior, threats and insults, and obstruction of their legitimate professional activities. Moreover, in some cases, these incidents have also been followed by lawsuits initiated against media or their representatives. In this regard, Alen Simonyan, the Speaker of the National Assembly, stands out among high-ranking officials: apart from finding himself in confrontational situations with journalists, he has filed 4 new lawsuits against them. In their interactions with media representatives, NA deputies Andranik Kocharyan, Vilen Gabrielyan, and others have also been displayed disrespectful and indecent behavior.
Notably, the 2 recorded cases of physical violence against journalists during this quarter occurred in the National Assembly, specifically when security service officers used force against them.
On March 30, the day of the snap elections to Gyumri Council of Elders, journalists were also subjected to pressure from citizens.
Despite a decrease in the number of violations of the right to receive and disseminate information during the reporting quarter compared to the same period last year, the current situation can still hardly be described as favorable. 29 such violations were recorded. Unjustified delays in state bodies’ responses to journalists’ inquiries, refusals to provide information on unfounded grounds, and formulaic replies that fail to address the substance of the questions remain widespread.
Facts concerning violations of the rights of journalists and media are presented in the relevant sections of the report. At the same time, the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression and partner organizations have issued joint statements regarding the most significant cases.
