Freedom House concerned with degradation of democratic norms in Armenia

Freedom House has voiced concern over the degradation of democratic norms and freedom of expression in Armenia, the organization said on Twitter.

An Armenian citizen has been found guilty of insulting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan — the first conviction on the recently passed 'grave insults' law.

"We are concerned with the first conviction of an Armenian citizen under a new law criminalizing 'serious insults' of government officials. This shows a clear degradation of democratic norms and creates a chilling effect for free expression in Armenia," Freedom House said in a statement.

It called on the Armenian parliament to revoke the law.

'We call on the parliament to revoke this law that so brazenly violates the principles enshrined in the Armenian Constitution, the country's OSCE commitments, and the European Convention on Human rights to which it is party," Freedom House said.

We are concerned with the first conviction of an Armenian citizen under a new law criminalizing “serious insults” of government officials. This shows a clear degradation of democratic norms and creates a chilling effect for free expression in Armenia. https://t.co/HkUJNZ3wfp

— Freedom House (@freedomhouse) February 4, 2022