Armenia young people in Yerevan with Armenian flag

Advancing Democratic Culture in Armenia

Freedom House works in Armenia to create spaces for dialogue among civil society, the government, policymakers, journalists, and the public to combat disinformation and defend democracy and fundamental freedoms.

Protesters holding huge Armenian flag on Republic Square during a rally in Yerevan, Armenia. 22 April 2018. Editorial credit: Kacper K awecki / Shutterstock.com

Call for Policy Brief Series Proposal

Freedom House is seeking a researcher to develop an expert perspective on the impact of disinformation on public life and democracy in Armenia elaborated through a well-thought-out policy brief. The preferred topic of this brief is the study of international best practices for combatting disinformation and their potential application in Armenia, but researchers are also welcome to propose other disinformation-related topics.

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Eurasia Program:
Advancing Democratic Culture in Armenia

The unchecked spread of disinformation in Armenia takes advantage of existing societal vulnerabilities and threatens the fragile process of democratic reforms. Freedom House seeks to help Armenian civil society, the public and the government develop a common vision for a democratic Armenia.

Entitled Advancing Democratic Culture in Armenia, this Freedom House project creates spaces for dialogue among civil society, the government, policymakers, journalists, and the public. Through research and analysis, support for grassroots initiatives, media literacy activities, advocacy, and convenings, Freedom House and partners aim to identify best practices to address disinformation in order to defend democracy and human rights in Armenia.

Current Partners:

Key Initiatives

Featured Events

Toward Information Integrity: Rising to Current Challenges in Armenia’s Information Space

On November 25-26, 2021 Freedom House organized a regional stakeholder meeting in Yerevan, "Toward Information Integrity: Rising to Current Challenges in Armenia’s Information Space." The event featured participation from local civil society and government representatives including the head of the Yezidi Center for Human Rights, Sashik Sultanyan, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Armenia, Chip Laitinen, and Freedom House's director of Europe and Eurasia Programs Marc Behrendt. The discussion was facilitated by Freedom House's Project Specialist, Andranik Shirinyan, and highlighted the challenges facing civil society in the country surrounding disinformation and freedom of speech.

Freedom House regional event in Armenia November 2021

Boundaries Between Information, Disinformation, and Confidentiality in Matters of National Security: What is Media Terror?

On May 18, 2021, Freedom House Armenia hosted an event discussing the current state of disinformation in the media, the boundary of information and disinformation as it pertains to national security and the definition and the use of the term "media terror" in the current discourse within Armenia. The event included a panel of several prominent members of local civil society as well as representatives from the Armenian Human Rights Defender's office and the Public Relations and Information Center SNCO under the Office of the Prime Minister.

Current Narratives on the Correlation of Democracy, Human Rights and Security in Post-War Armenia: True or False?

Freedom House engages with leading experts, representatives of local civil society, and the government to facilitate public discussions on the most pressing and controversial issues facing Armenian democracy and human rights. On February 11, 2021, Freedom House Armenia hosted an event titled "Current Narratives about the Correlation of Democracy, Human Rights and Security in Post-War Armenia: True or False?" The event featured the participation of several prominent members of local civil society as well as the Armenian Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan and Freedom House's director of Europe and Eurasia Programs Marc Behrendt. The discussion was facilitated by Freedom House’s Project Coordinator Sossi Tatikyan and emphasized the danger of disinformation after the war, as well as the link between democracy, human rights, and security and the importance of continued democratic progress in Armenia.

Program Publications

Armenia’s Fight Against Disinformation: Towards a Whole-of-Society Approach?

False and misleading claims have been a problem in Armenia’s information space in the past. However, with the onset of COVID-19 and the Nagorno-Karabakh 44-Day War in 2020, the country is more vulnerable to disinformation than ever before. While the Government of Armenia has acknowledged the threat that disinformation poses to its democratic system and has taken some positive measures to address it, its response has been overall insufficient to address the long-term, complex challenge that disinformation presents. The unimpeded spread of disinformation is particularly concerning for Armenia’s fragile process of democratic development as well as its resilience as a state given its ongoing national security issues. This policy brief analyzes international best practices for combating disinformation and offers recommendations to the government on how to combat disinformation more effectively.

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Disinformation and Misinformation in Armenia: Confronting the Power of False Narratives

Freedom House Armenia’s new report calls attention to the severity, complexity and shape of disinformation narratives circulating in the country, and assesses the risks they pose to democratic development. The report analyzes major narratives across four topics that have circulated in Armenia: democracy and civil society, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, and social and cultural issues. The report calls on the state, media, civil society and international partners to strengthen their responses to these vulnerabilities, with particular attention toward building sustained resilience.

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