ArmInfo. Despite a pluralistic environment, the media remain polarised. The country is facing an unprecedented level of disinformation and hate speech, especially over the Nagorno-Karabakh territorial dispute and the ongoing threat of war with Azerbaijan, according to the 2024 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders today.
The 2024 World Press Freedom Index ranks Armenia 43rd (as against 49th last year).
Media landscape
Social media, accessed daily by two-thirds of the population, is the main source of information. Many new media outlets have sprung up since the 2018 "Velvet Revolution" and independent news sites such as Civilnet.am, hetq.am, Factor.am and Azatutyun.am are thriving and are fulfilling an independent watchdog role that is essential in a democracy. Nevertheless, most broadcast and print media, affiliated with major political and commercial interests, continue to face pressure concerning their editorial policy.
Political context
The polarisation of the media mirrors that of the political scene: many media outlets are close to political leaders who emerged after 2018, while others remain loyal to former oligarchs. Only a handful of media demonstrate independence. Two political topics are especially sensitive: the ethnic cleansing of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh and the strained relations between Armenia and Russia. Some political groups carry out disinformation operations and target journalists.
Legal framework
Despite the decriminalisation of defamation and the implementation of legislation that guarantees the transparency of media ownership, the legal framework that regulates the sector does not sufficiently protect freedom of the press, nor does it follow European standards. Recent reforms have not resolved problems posed by disinformation and gag orders. Access to state-held information is limited by the government (refusal to respond, delays, etc.)
Economic context
The majority of media are controlled by people close to political movements or are supported by influential public figures. Few outlets have adopted paid subscription models, and the advertising market remains under-developed, which limits the financial independence of privately owned media. Meanwhile, state- owned media refrain from any criticism of the government.
Sociocultural context
As a profession, journalism is disparaged and subject to especially troubling hate speech. Anti-media rhetoric from political elites, who accuse journalists of "corruption" and of being in the service of their adversaries, creates a climate of intolerance that hinders reporters' work. They are constantly insulted, assaulted and subject to abusive defamation proceedings, which reinforces self-censorship.
Safety
Clashes on the border with Azerbaijan complicate the work of journalists. Furthermore, journalists are often subjected to pressure, insults and violence by both ruling party officials and opposition politicians, as well as their supporters - whether in Parliament, in the street, or on social media. In general, violence against journalists goes unpunished.
The TOP 5 countries included Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Finland. Among the most unfree are Syria, Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran and Turkmenistan.
It is noteworthy that among neighboring countries Armenia occupies a leading position: in particular, Georgia is in 103rd place, Turkey in 158th, Azerbaijan in 164th and Iran in 176th.
Days earlier, a number of journalistic organizations in Armenia issued a statement in which they expressed outrage at the unjustified aggression and cruelty of Armenian law enforcement officers against media representatives covering protests against the border delimitation process in the Armenian-Azerbaijani contact zone, as well as unjustified violence.
The statement recalls that on April 27, on the Ijevan-Kirants highway in Tavush region, masked police stopped a car carrying media representatives, took their car out, threw the operator of the news site NewDay.am Janibek Khachatryan to the ground, handcuffed him and tried to detain him.
"Numerous warnings that the person in question was a member of the media and, together with his colleagues, was covering the protests taking place in those days, remained unanswered. The cameraman was released a little later.
On the same day, when dispersing a protest rally of citizens in the village of Dsegh in the Lori region of the Yerevan-Tbilisi road, police interfered with the professional activities of employees of the Oragir.News website covering these actions. Journalist Ani Nerkararyan was knocked down - she was injured, and cameraman Zaven Ohanyan was forced to stop filming," the statement states.
According to information from the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression, in the first quarter of 2024, 17 cases (as in the previous year) of various pressures on journalists and 41 cases of violation of the receipt and dissemination of information were recorded in Armenia (compared to 48 a year earlier). At that time, no cases of physical violence against media representatives were registered, since the country had a relatively calm socio-political situation. Protests in Tavush, where security forces obstructed the work of the media and resorted to violence, began in April.
The above 17 registered cases of pressure were reflected, among other things, in indecent treatment of journalists and cameramen, insults and threats in the online space, and obstruction of legitimate professional activities.
At the same time, the number of lawsuits against journalists and media outlets has increased. Thus, during the reporting period, 12 such claims were filed, compared to 9 a year earlier. Of these, 5 are from government officials, 6 from business circles, one ordinary citizen.
Regarding cases of violation of the dissemination and receipt of information, the Committee noted that when sending official requests from the media to government agencies, journalists continue to face a number of problems. In particular, the latter receive unreasonable refusals, face unjustified delays in information, or receive formal answers that do not correspond to the essence of the question or bypass the question altogether.