NEW YORK — The human rights organization Amnesty International has identified a number of systemic concerns regarding the protection of human rights and the state of democratic institutions in Armenia in its 2025 annual report.
According to the report, legislative changes and shifts in foreign policy have been accompanied by restrictions on freedom of expression and insufficient oversight of law enforcement bodies. In particular, the organization drew attention to amendments adopted in August that grant police access to live feeds from public surveillance cameras, including the use of facial recognition technologies. The report warns that these measures pose a serious threat to the right to privacy and freedom of assembly.
At the same time, an increase in pressure on freedom of speech has been documented. Between April and June, 29 lawsuits for defamation and insult were filed against media outlets. Additionally, podcast hosts Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan, creators of the “Imnemnimi” podcast, were detained twice for criticizing the authorities.
Within the law enforcement system, Amnesty International highlighted concerns over impunity. Despite numerous reports of police violence during protests in May and June 2024, criminal proceedings were initiated against only 16 protesters, while no police officers were held accountable. The United Nations Committee Against Torture also expressed concern over the lack of independence of investigative bodies and the lenient penalties prescribed for acts of torture.
In the realm of foreign policy, the report notes Armenia’s shift toward Western institutions, including the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with the United States in January and the launch of the European Union accession process in March. A declaration signed with Azerbaijan in August, mediated by the United States, outlines the resolution of territorial disputes and the creation of a transportation corridor through southern Armenia. These developments have been accompanied by increased internal polarization and a rise in disinformation. In June, authorities also announced that they had foiled an attempted coup allegedly organized by a businessman with ties to Russia.
From a social perspective, the report underscores the negative impact of the suspension of funding from United States Agency for International Development on civil society organizations, which has complicated efforts to support more than 100,000 displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh. In January, the European Court of Human Rights ruled against Armenia, finding that the state had failed to adequately protect vulnerable groups from hate speech. Meanwhile, comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation remains pending approval by parliament.
