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The CPFE’s third-quarter 2026 report on freedom of expression in Armenia recorded a positive development, with no cases of physical violence against journalists reported during the period.
The Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression (CPFE) is a non-governmental organization whose stated mission is to support the establishment of a free and responsible press in Armenia, protect the rights of journalists and media outlets, contribute to improving media legislation, and develop a self-regulation system based on professional ethics.
CPFE Chairman Ashot Melikyan said at a press conference that no cases of physical violence against journalists were recorded in the third quarter of this year.
“I want to specifically emphasize this because we have had very few quarters with such figures. We recorded one such case in each of the first and second quarters of this year, while none were recorded in the third quarter. Overall, I can say that such violations have been declining this year. If this becomes a trend, that would certainly be welcome,” Ashot Melikyan said.
In the third quarter of this year, 12 cases were recorded in which the right of journalists and media outlets to receive and disseminate information was violated. This figure decreased noticeably compared with the same period in 2025, when 23 such cases were recorded in the third quarter.
According to Ashot Melikyan, this trend is mainly due to the absence of social and political tensions during the period in question. Conflict situations in the work of the current parliament have decreased compared with the previous convocation, which has naturally had an impact.
“On the other hand, there are signs that the atmosphere has changed. This directly relates to the situation in the National Assembly, where, at the start of the 9th convocation’s work, it was stated that efforts would be made to hold debates without insults and to keep political discourse clean. This had some impact on relations with journalists accredited to parliament. I have noticed that members of different parliamentary factions are showing much more respect. In the third quarter, we recorded only two cases of pressure and disrespect, which cannot be compared with the atmosphere in the parliament of the 8th convocation. The situation has changed now,” Ashot Melikyan said.
Despite the positive indicators, Ashot Melikyan cautioned against an overly optimistic assessment of the situation. He emphasized that there are issues that need to be discussed and resolved. He considers the continued flow of lawsuits against journalists and media outlets, which has not decreased, to be a matter of concern.
“There were more new lawsuits in the third quarter than in the first and second quarters. Fourteen cases were recorded in the first quarter, 12 in the second, and 18 in the third, bringing the total to 44. The year is not over yet, so this trend may continue. Most of those filing lawsuits are representatives of state bodies and senior officials, but there are also businesspeople and other citizens,” Ashot Melikyan said.
According to him, the main reason for this situation is the deep polarization of the media landscape, the close ties between some media outlets and political forces, their service to those forces’ political interests, as well as the intolerance of certain politicians.