From “Partly Free” to “Free”: A Long Road

By KRIKOR KHODANIAN

The international human rights organization “Freedom House” has published its annual report assessing the state of political rights and civil liberties worldwide. The findings reveal that freedom is in retreat across the globe.

Once again, Armenia is ranked among the “partly free” countries, maintaining the same classification as in previous years. In the region, the only other country with this status is Georgia, while Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, and Russia are all categorized as “not free.”

Compared to the period before 2018, Armenia has made significant progress, transitioning from an authoritarian regime to a relatively free country. Following the Velvet Revolution, a series of reforms have transformed the nation’s political landscape. Fair elections, freedom of speech and the press, the dismantling of economic monopolies, and efforts to eliminate systemic corruption have all contributed to this progress.

Despite these advancements, Armenia still faces considerable challenges on its path to achieving full democracy. One major obstacle is the country’s semi-warlike state, which hampers sustainable development. Given the ongoing threats from Azerbaijan, Armenia is compelled to allocate substantial resources to defense and military modernization. Otherwise, these funds could be redirected toward improving citizens’ quality of life. Economic prosperity and political freedoms are often interconnected; wealthier nations tend to enjoy greater freedoms than poorer ones.

Another impediment to Armenia’s democratic development is the lack of a traditional opposition. In fully democratic countries, opposition parties serve as government watchdogs, providing checks and balances while preparing for future elections. However, Armenia’s opposition often takes a different approach. Despite its presence in parliament, it frequently resorts to street protests and calls for government overthrow rather than engaging in constructive political discourse. Such actions, including incitements to violence and clashes with law enforcement, are inconsistent with democratic norms and inevitably attract scrutiny from organizations like “Freedom House.”

As long as the opposition disregards democratic principles and prioritizes destabilization over institutional engagement, Armenia’s progress toward becoming a “free” country will remain uncertain. However, with continued reforms and a commitment to democratic values, Armenia has the potential to move beyond its current status and join the ranks of fully free nations.

“MASSIS”