View source for Human rights in Armenia

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Update|date=December 2017}}
'''Human rights in [[Armenia]]''' tend to be better than those in most [[Post-Soviet states|former Soviet republics]] and have drawn closer to acceptable standards, especially economically.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cato.org/human-freedom-index|title=Human Freedom Index|work=Cato Institute|access-date=2018-11-19|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/human-freedom-index-files/2017-hfi-country-profiles-2.pdf|title=Country profiles}}</ref> In October 2023, Armenia ratified the [[Rome statute]], whereby Armenia will become a full member of the [[International Criminal Court]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Armenian Parliament ratified the Rome Statute. What was it necessary for? |url=https://jam-news.net/armenia-ratified-the-rome-statute/ |date=3 October 2023}}</ref>  
{{Politics of Armenia}}

== Democracy and freedom rating ==
{{See also|Armenia#Human_rights_and_freedom}}Armenia is classified as "partly free" in a 2019 report (with data for 2018) by [[Freedom House]], which gives it a score of 51 out of 100.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2019/armenia|title=Armenia|date=2019-01-31|website=freedomhouse.org|language=en|access-date=2019-02-06|archive-date=2019-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015026/https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2019/armenia|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Armenia has made improvements in its [[Human Freedom Index]] score from the [[Cato Institute]]. According to the 2021 report, Armenia ranks 40th overall. It ranks 48th for personal freedom and 15th for economic freedom. This is a notable improvement from the 2017 score which featured Armenia ranked 54th overall, followed by 29th for economic freedom and 76th for personal freedom.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Vásquez |first1=Ian |last2=McMahon |first2=Fred |last3=Murphy |first3=Ryan |last4=Sutter Schneider |first4=Guillermina |title=the Human Freedom Index 2021 |date=2021 |publisher=Cato Institute |isbn=978-1-952223-50-1 |url=https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/2022-03/human-freedom-index-2021-updated.pdf |access-date=18 December 2022}}</ref>

== Economy and human rights ==
{{main|Corruption in Armenia|Economy of Armenia}}
{{Update-section|date=March 2018}}

[[Political corruption|Corruption]] remained a problem as of 2009, according to the U.S. Department of State.<ref name="U.S. Department of State Report">[https://web.archive.org/web/20100315154731/http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/eur/136018.htm U.S. Department of State 2009 Report] — see Section 4</ref>

== Political freedom ==
Since the ouster of [[Levon Ter-Petrossian]] as president in 1998, [[political freedom]] has seen some improvement. Ter-Petrossian's administration saw constitutional change that secured more power for the president than the parliament. He also banned nine political parties (including, notably the [[Armenian Revolutionary Federation]]). Ter-Petrossian's semi-autocratic style of governing and his gradualist approach to solving the [[Nagorno-Karabakh]] conflict led to his ousting and the succession of [[Robert Kocharyan]] as president.<ref name="Freedom House">{{Cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2005/armenia|title=Armenia|date=2012-01-12|website=freedomhouse.org|language=en|access-date=2019-06-26|archive-date=2019-06-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626071350/https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2005/armenia|url-status=dead}}</ref> Kocharyan was succeeded in 2008 by [[Serzh Sargsyan]].

Armenia's former ex-presidents [[Serzh Sargsyan]] and Robert Kocharyan have accused Prime Minister [[Nikol Pashinyan]] of pursuing a political vendetta against them.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/7ca73dbab100474382407ae0b9b66616|title=Armenia's ex-president accused of embezzlement|date=2019-12-04|website=AP NEWS|access-date=2020-02-19}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190513-ex-armenia-president-goes-trial-rejects-coup-charges|title=Ex-Armenia president goes on trial, rejects 'coup' charges|date=2019-05-13|website=France 24|language=en|access-date=2020-02-19}}</ref> Such as after the transition of power, Armenia's ex-president Serzh Sargsyan,<ref name=":02" /> his close relatives (brother –  Alexander Sargysyan,<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Serzh Sargsyan's Brother Accused of Fraud Donated 19.6 Million USD to Defense Army of Artsakh|url=https://www.lragir.am/en/2019/02/27/71132|access-date=2021-02-03|website=|archive-date=2020-02-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220060920/https://www.lragir.am/en/2019/02/27/71132|url-status=dead}}</ref> another brother – Levon Sargsyan,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/987907.html|title=Court issues second arrest warrant for ex-president's brother Levon Sargsyan|website=armenpress.am|language=en|access-date=2020-02-19}}</ref> his son Narek{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}} and daughter Ani<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-07-02|title=Ex–Armenian president's relatives under investigation for tax fraud|url=https://oc-media.org/ex-armenian-presidents-relatives-under-investigation-for-tax-fraud/|access-date=2020-02-19|website=[[OC Media]]|language=en-US}}</ref>), former cabinet members ([[Seyran Ohanyan]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.am/eng/news/470475.html|title=Head of Armenia's intelligence: We taking measures to prevent Seyran Ohanyan from leaving the country|website=news.am|language=en|access-date=2020-02-19}}</ref> [[Sergo Karapetyan]],<ref name="news.am">{{Cite web|url=https://news.am/eng/news/557789.html|title=Case regarding Armenia 3rd President and other ex-officials inscribed to Yerevan court judge|website=news.am|language=en|access-date=2020-02-19}}</ref> Gevorg Harutyunyan,<ref name="news.am"/> [[Armen Gevorgyan|Armen Gevorkyan]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/957886.html|title=SIS seeks arrest of former Secretary of Security Council Armen Gevorgyan|website=armenpress.am|language=en|access-date=2020-02-19}}</ref> and others), former members of Parliament (Arsen Babayan,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.azatutyun.am/a/30233906.html|title=Արսեն Բաբայանը կալանավորվեց|website=«Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան|language=hy|access-date=2020-02-19}}</ref> Grayr Tovmasyan,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.am/eng/news/539648.html|title=What were daughters of Hrayr Tovmasyan asked about at Armenian NSS?|website=news.am|language=en|access-date=2020-02-19}}</ref> [[Manvel Grigoryan]]), former judge- Samvel Uzumyan<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.am/eng/news/551203.html|title=Armenia ex-judge declared wanted|website=news.am|language=en|access-date=2020-02-19}}</ref> were charged with corruption, illegal income and tax evasion charges, some journalists (Gagik Shamshyan, Satik Seyranyan,<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=27 December 2019|title=Դա ունի քաղաքական շեշտադրում և ուղղված է ԶԼՄ գործունեության խոչընդոտմանը. Սաթիկ Սեյրանյանը՝ Արմեն Թավադյանի հետ կատարվածի մասին|work=|url=https://www.aravot.am/2019/12/27/1085850/|access-date=19 February 2020}}</ref> Mher Yegiazaryan<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aysor.am/en/news/2019/01/26/causes-yegiazaryan/1518109|title=Haynews.am news website responsible Mher Yeghiazaryan died of myocardial infarction - aysor.am - Hot news from Armenia|last=LLC|first=Helix Consulting|website=aysor.am|language=en|access-date=2020-02-19}}</ref> etc.) and political activists (Narek Malyan, Konstantin Ter-Nakalyan, &nbsp;Artur Danielyan,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://novosti-armenia.com/eng/33/67017-armenian-public-political-club-issues-statement-on-apprehension-of-activists.html|title=Armenian public-political club issues statement on apprehension of activists|website=Новости Армении|language=en|access-date=2020-02-19}}</ref>)  were detained, charged with the use of drug, illegal possession of gun, and released later. According to Associated Press, Sargsyan has rejected all accusations against him, his relatives and former members of cabinet as a politically motivated charges.<ref name=":02" />

Another former president of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan was accused of tipping those presidential polls in Sarkisian's favour and faces charges of "overthrowing the constitutional order".<ref name=":0" /> Dozens of Kocharyan's supporters rallied in May 2019 outside the Yerevan city court, holding placards that read "Kocharyan is a political prisoner" and "Political vendetta."<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=https://today.rtl.lu/news/world/a/1347236.html|title=Coup or political vendetta?: Ex-Armenia president goes on trial, rejects 'coup' charges|website=today.rtl.lu|language=en|access-date=2020-02-19}}</ref> The 64-year-old Robert Kocharyan told AFP the case was brought against him because of new leadership that pushed out his successor in a popular uprising last year. "What is happening to me is nothing less than lawlessness," he told AFP from prison.<ref name=":12" />

=== 2008 Armenian presidential election protests ===

{{Update-section|date=March 2018}}

[[2008 Armenian presidential election protests|A series of mass protests]] were held in [[Armenia]] in the wake of the [[Armenian presidential election, 2008|Armenian presidential election]] of 19 February 2008. The Human Rights Watch documented nine cases of unknown persons threatening and violently attacking opposition activists, journalists, and observes as a response to electoral fraud claims.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-02-20 |title=Armenia: Violence at Polling Stations Mars Elections |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2008/02/20/armenia-violence-polling-stations-mars-elections |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=Human Rights Watch |language=en}}</ref> Mass protests against alleged electoral fraud were held in the capital city of [[Yerevan]] and organized by supporters of the unsuccessful presidential candidate and first President of Armenia, [[Levon Ter-Petrosyan]].  The protests began on 20 February, lasted for 10 days in [[Freedom Square, Yerevan|Yerevan's Freedom Square]], and involved tens of thousands of demonstrators during the day and hundreds camping out overnight. After nine days of peaceful protests at the Opera Square, the national police and military forces tried to disperse the protesters on 1 March.<ref name="COEReportMar20">[https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1265025&Site=CommDH&BackColorInternet=FEC65B&BackColorIntranet=FEC65B&BackColorLogged=FFC679 "Report by the Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr Thomas Hammarberg, on his special mission to Armenia, 12 – 15 march 2008"], Council of Europe, March 20, 2008.</ref> Statements made by demonstrators suggested that police used excessive force to clear our the tent encampment erected by protestors. According to personal accounts the police attacked unprovoked to which later on the protestors responded with throwing rocks.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2009-02-25 |title=Democracy on Rocky Ground: Armenia's Disputed 2008 Presidential Election, Post-Election Violence, and the One-Sided Pursuit of Accountability |url=https://www.hrw.org/report/2009/02/25/democracy-rocky-ground/armenias-disputed-2008-presidential-election-post-election |language=en}}</ref> As a result, 10 people were killed. Despite the urges of the government to stop the demonstrations, the protests continued until 1 March. On the morning of 1 March police and army units dispersed the 700–1,000 persons who remained overnight, beating them with truncheons and [[Electroshock weapon|electric-shock devices]].<ref name="ArmNowMar1Noon">[http://www.armenianow.com "Protestor on scene tells of melee"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516144258/http://www.armenianow.com/ |date=2008-05-16 }}, ArmeniaNow.com, March 1, 2008</ref><ref name="HRW1">[http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/03/02/armeni18189.htm "Armenia: Police Beat Peaceful Protesters in Yerevan"], [[Human Rights Watch]] (NY), March 2, 2008.</ref><ref name="ArmLibMar1a">[http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2008/03/FFAB3C6D-A75D-4E48-B0D6-5D3A83069160.ASP Ter-Petrosyan ‘Under House Arrest,’ Rally Broken Up], [[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]], March 1, 2008.  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123052730/http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2008/03/FFAB3C6D-A75D-4E48-B0D6-5D3A83069160.ASP|date=November 23, 2008}}</ref> As of 4 March, many protesters are still missing.<ref name="ArmLibMar4b">[http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2008/03/D816B1BC-CAE4-47EF-9A5B-E55169ADE4BC.ASP "Human Rights Watch Demands Probe Into Armenian Crackdown"], Armenia Liberty ([[RFE/RL]]), March 4, 2008.  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412005838/http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2008/03/D816B1BC-CAE4-47EF-9A5B-E55169ADE4BC.ASP|date=April 12, 2009}}</ref> Since 1 March, Ter-Petrosyan was placed under ''de facto'' house arrest.<ref name="COEReportMar20" /><ref name="ArmLibMar1a" /><ref>[http://www.eurasianet.org/armenia08/news/030108.shtml "Armenia: At Least 2 Dead in Yerevan Violence, as Kocharian Declares State of Emergency"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080903224655/http://www.eurasianet.org/armenia08/news/030108.shtml |date=2008-09-03 }}, Armenia: Vote 2008 (EurasiaNet.org), March 1, 2008.</ref>

== Police and law enforcement{{anchor|Police brutality}} ==
{{External media | image1=[https://i1.wp.com/factsmaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/top-30-countries-prisoners.png Map of top 30 countries with highest and lowest imprisonment rates]}}

In 2018, all neighboring countries of Armenia were on the list of 30 nations with [[list of countries by incarceration rate|highest imprisonment rates]], while rates in Armenia were lower.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://i1.wp.com/factsmaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/top-30-countries-prisoners.png|title=Top 30 countries with highest and lowest imprisonment rates}}</ref> After the report was compiled, the government initiated and conducted a large-scale [[amnesty]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2018/11/03/amnesty-bill/2028371|title=Armenian president signs amnesty bill into law|last=LLC|first=Helix Consulting|website=panorama.am|language=en|access-date=2018-11-19}}</ref>

There have been reports of [[police brutality]] and arbitrary arrests carried out. Beatings and torture of detainees before trial is used to obtain confessions or information. Demonstrations against the government have been dispersed with force, and opposition leaders have been detained. As of 2006 Abuse is common in the army and is suspected as the cause of many suspicious deaths.<ref>[http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home/opendoc.htm?tbl=RSDCOI&page=research&id=43cfae9a20 Human Rights Watch World Report 2006]</ref>

=== Incidents ===
On 12 May 2007 Levon Gulyan, who was called to the police as a witness to a murder case, died in the Police Main Department of Criminal Investigations after allegedly being beaten to death and thrown out a window by Hovik Tamamyan, the First Deputy Chief of the Police Main Department of Criminal Investigations.<ref>[http://www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=16952 ''Do they need to kill while investigating a murder case?''], Human Rights in Armenia, May 23, 2007.</ref> Police say that Gulyan slipped and fell down the first floor while trying to escape police custody. A preliminary forensic medical examination by forensic specialists from Denmark and Germany states that Gulyan's death was the result of fatal injuries that included fractures of the skull, thorax, spine and ribs. According to ArmeniaNow, "murders committed inside the police are not disclosed."<ref>[http://www.armenianow.com/?action=viewArticle&IID=1134&AID=2212&lng=eng ''Escape or Torture?: Police under spotlight as death of witness raises questions''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222230/http://www.armenianow.com/?action=viewArticle&IID=1134&AID=2212&lng=eng |date=2016-03-03 }}, ArmeniaNow, May 18, 2007.</ref> In a letter addressed to the Head of Police, the Executive Director of the [[International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights]] (IHF) cited suspicions on the police explanation of Gulyan's death and mentioned that torture and ill-treatment by the police remain serious problems in Armenia, as noted also by the [[European Committee for the Prevention of Torture]] in its 2004 report on Armenia.<ref>[http://www.ihf-hr.org/viewbinary/viewhtml.php?doc_id=7567 ''Open Letter to the Armenian Head of Police on the Death of Levon Gulyan in Police Custody ''], [[International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights]], May 17, 2007.</ref>

A partial list compiled by [[ArmeniaNow]] names 11 others who suspiciously died while under police custody.<ref>[http://www.armenianow.com/?action=viewArticle&AID=2202&lng=eng&IID=1134 ''Deadly Pattern: Gulyan death not the first to raise suspicion about police treatment''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214742/http://www.armenianow.com/?action=viewArticle&AID=2202&lng=eng&IID=1134 |date=2016-03-03 }}, ArmeniaNow, May 18, 2007.</ref>

== Freedom of expression and of the media ==
{{Update-section|date=September 2020}}

=== 2000s and early 2010s ===
{{Main|Media of Armenia}}
While the media has a degree of independence, the [[freedom of press]] in Armenia is limited. Some independent channels, such as A1+, Noyan Tapan, and Russian NTV, have had their frequencies taken away by the government. Journalists covering a demonstration against [[President (government title)|President]] Robert Kocharyan were attacked when police intervened to detain the protestors.<ref>[http://web.amnesty.org/report2005/arm-summary-eng Amnesty International Report 2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060905130331/http://web.amnesty.org/report2005/arm-summary-eng |date=2006-09-05 }}</ref>

In January 2011, the [[Committee to Protect Journalists]] – an international media watchdog – criticized the Armenian government for maintaining a tight grip on the country's broadcast media and accused them of routinely harassing local journalists challenging them.<ref name="ArmLib-Feb-15-2011">[http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/2310358.html "Western Watchdog Deplores Government Control Of Armenian TV"], Armenia Liberty ([[RFE/RL]]), February 15, 2011.</ref> According to the CPJ report, new amendments to Armenian broadcasting law in 2010 positioned President Sarkisian "to maintain control over the country's docile television and radio stations, most of which were owned by pro-government politicians and businessmen."<ref name="ArmLib-Feb-15-2011"/> The report also claims that the Armenian police officers “routinely harassed, assaulted, and arrested journalists” in 2010. “Prosecutors regularly colluded in this practice by failing to investigate police officers, even filing charges on occasion against journalists who protested abuses, CPJ research showed.”<ref name="ArmLib-Feb-15-2011"/>

==== Television ====

{{Update-section|date=March 2018}}

Other than the Gyumri-based GALA, virtually all Armenian TV stations, including the Yerevan-based national networks, are controlled by or loyal to the government. The only major private network that regularly aired criticism of the government was controversially forced off the air in 2002.<ref name="ArmLibMar19a">[http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2008/03/73EC02AE-DD93-458B-AD1C-10E76D08552C.ASP "Embattled TV Raising Money To Stay On Air"], Armenia Liberty ([[RFE/RL]]), March 19, 2008.</ref>

In 2010, the Armenian government passed a set of controversial amendments to Armenian law on broadcasting that enables government regulators to grant or revoke licenses without explanation, as well as impose programming restrictions that would confine some stations to narrow themes such as culture, education, and sports.<ref name="ArmLib-Feb-15-2011"/> The Committee to Protect Journalists suggested that these amendments are primarily aimed at keeping the independent TV station A1+ off the air. It also pointed out that GALA TV, another, functioning independent broadcaster based in Gyumri, will be taken off the air in 2015 because of the amendments.<ref name="ArmLib-Feb-15-2011"/> Both A1+ and GALA TV failed to win new licenses in supposedly competitive tenders administered by the National Commission on Television and Radio in late 2010.<ref name="ArmLib-Feb-15-2011"/>

==== 2008 State of Emergency ====
Following the [[2008 Armenian presidential election protests]], President Kocharian controversially declared a 20-day State of Emergency on 1 March, and used it to ban all public gatherings and censor all media (both Internet and in print) to include only information sponsored by the state. Also, the authorities closed several opposition newspapers along with their websites, including A1+ and Haykakan Zhamanak. Furthermore, the government blocked access to the [[YouTube]] website which contained videos from the 1 March protest and late night clashes with police that showed special forces firing automatic weapons directly into the crowd. Also blocked was the radio transmission and website access to Armenian Liberty, a service of [[Radio Free Europe]].

==== Attacks on journalists ====
Frequent attacks on journalists of non-state sponsored media is a serious threat to Armenia's press freedom.

On 30 April 2009 Argishti Kiviryan, a coordinator of the ARMENIA Today news agency (a paper known for its opposition stance), was severely beaten on his way home from work in Yerevan. Three unknown individuals reportedly assailed and severely beat Kiviryan causing him serious head and face injuries. His condition was reported as "serious but stable" after he was taken to the ''Erebuni'' medical center.<ref>{{cite news |first=Armine |last=Grigoryan |title=Ambushed: Attack on journalist raises concerns over safety of profession in Armenia |url=http://www.armenianow.com/?action=viewArticle&AID=3698&CID=3565&IID=1233&lng=eng |work=Armenia Now |date=1 May 2009 |access-date=1 May 2009 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The [[Human Rights Defender of Armenia]], [[Armen Harutyunyan]], condemned the act and, noting that almost all cases of violence against the journalists taken part in the past have not been disclosed, called upon the police to investigate and disclose his assailants.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Violence against the journalist |url=http://ombuds.am/main/en/9/27/1985/ |publisher=Human Rights Defender of Armenia |date=2009-04-30 |access-date=2009-05-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717022925/http://ombuds.am/main/en/9/27/1985/ |archive-date=2012-07-17 }}</ref>

On 17 November 2008 [[Edik Baghdasaryan]], one of Armenia's most prominent investigative journalists and editor of [[Hetq]], was violently attacked and sustained a severe head injury for which he had to be hospitalized. The attack was likely connected to his reporting.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}

== Freedom of movement ==
In the past law enforcement authorities blocked public transport access from nearby towns to Yerevan whenever there is a large opposition rally in Yerevan. On 1 March 2011 public transport between Yerevan and nearby regions ground to a halt in a government effort to lower attendance at a major rally to be held by the opposition [[Armenian National Congress]] (HAK).<ref name="ArmLib-2011-03-01">{{cite news |first= Hovannes |last=Shoghikian |title=Travel To Yerevan Restricted Ahead Of Opposition Rally
 |url=http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/2324471.html |work=RFE/RL |date=1 March 2011 |access-date=1 March 2011 }}</ref> Bus stations in small towns close to the capital—including Etchmiadzin, Artashat, and Masis—effectively stood idle in the morning and early afternoon, leaving scores of local commuters stranded. Police patrols were also deployed on major roads leading to Yerevan. Police reportedly say that this is part of a special police operation aimed at tracking down stolen cars, or that police are looking for weapons. Both law enforcement and government officials denied opposition claims that the authorities are thus trying to keep many Armenians from joining anti-government demonstrators in Yerevan.<ref name="ArmLib-2011-03-01"/>

== Freedom of religion ==
{{Main|Freedom of religion in Armenia}}
{{See also|Ethnic minorities in Armenia}}

The [[Armenian Apostolic Church]] has a considerable monopoly in Armenia, possessing more rights than any other registered religion. Other religious minorities include [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodox Christians]], [[Syriac Christianity|Syriac Christians]], [[Greek Orthodox Church|Greek Orthodox Christians]], [[Judaism|Jews]], [[Muslim]]s, [[Yazidi]]s, and [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]. By and large, Armenia's Muslim community (once composed of [[Azerbaijani people|Azeris]] and [[Kurdish people|Kurds]]) is virtually nonexistent due to population exchange between Armenia and Azerbaijan during the [[First Nagorno-Karabakh War]].

== LGBT rights in Armenia ==
{{Main|LGBT rights in Armenia}}
{{See also|Recognition of same-sex unions in Armenia}}

Homosexuality has been legal in Armenia since 2003.<ref name="ILGA 2013">[http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2013.pdf State-sponsored Homophobia A world survey of laws prohibiting same sex activity between consenting adults]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130717085454/http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2013.pdf |date=2013-07-17 }}</ref> However, even though it has been decriminalized, the situation of local lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens has not changed substantially.  Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Armenia have yet to be claimed and acquired. Homosexuality remains a taboo topic in parts of Armenian society as the nation trails other European nations in promoting LGBT rights. There is, moreover, no legal protection for LGBT persons whose human rights are violated regularly.<ref>[http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,,,ARM,,49c0ae641e,0.html Armenian Gays Face Long Walk to Freedom] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010075558/http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country%2C%2C%2C%2CARM%2C%2C49c0ae641e%2C0.html |date=2012-10-10 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://hetq.am/en/society/gay/ |title=Armenia's Animosity Towards Gays |access-date=2015-04-24 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710191302/http://hetq.am/en/society/gay/ |archive-date=2012-07-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Many fear violence in their workplace or from their family, and therefore, do not openly express their sexuality nor file complaints of human rights violations or of criminal offences.<ref>[http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/refworld/rwmain?page=search&amp;docid=45f147e128&amp;skip=0&amp;query=gays%20in%20armenia Report: The situation of homosexuals and lesbians in Armenia (January 2003 - December 2005) by the Government of Canada]</ref> Armenia was ranked 47th out of 49 European countries for LGBT rights in 2013, with only Russia and Azerbaijan being worse for their human rights in this regard.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2013.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-05-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130717085454/http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2013.pdf |archive-date=2013-07-17 }}</ref>

[[Lilit Martirosyan (activist)|Lilit Martirosyan]] is a transgender woman who addressed Armenia's Parliament for 3 minutes on 5 April 2019. She told parliament that the organization that she founded, [[Right Side NGO]], had recorded 283 cases of transgender rights violations. Some lawmakers were immediately hostile, saying that Martirosian had "...disturbed a hearing agenda and disrespected parliament." Members of the public threatened and condemned Martirosian and all transgender people living in Armenia.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2019/04/27/world/europe/ap-eu-armenia-transgender-rights.html|title=Armenian Trans Woman Gets Threats After Parliament Speech|agency=Associated Press|date=2019-04-27|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-04-28|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Armenia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Anna Naghdalyan, responded to a statement from the [[European Union]] mission in Yerevan and EU member state embassies that condemned the hate speech directed towards Martirosian, Right Side NGO, and the LGBTQ community: "Our international partners should demonstrate more respect and sensitivity towards the Armenian society and refrain from undue engagement in the public debate, even if they disagree with its tonality. We would like to remind that the principle of public morality is a part of international commitments on human rights and cannot be ignored."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eurasianet.org/armenia-roiled-by-transgender-womans-speech-in-parliament|title=Armenia roiled by transgender woman's speech in parliament|website=Eurasianet|language=en|access-date=2019-04-28}}</ref>

==Historical situation==
The following chart shows Armenia’s ratings since 1991 in the [[Freedom in the World]] reports, published annually by [[Freedom House]]. A rating of 1 is "free"; 7, "not free".<ref>{{cite web | url = https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/2022-02/Country_and_Territory_Ratings_and_Statuses_FIW_1973-2022.xlsx | title = Country and Territory Ratings and Statuses, FIW 1973-2022 | access-date = 8 March 2022 | author = Freedom House | author-link = Freedom House | year = 2022 | format = XLS}}</ref>{{ref|a|1}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="border:none; "
!Historical ratings
|-
|style="padding:0; border:none;"|
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=100% style="border-collapse:collapse;"
|- style="background:#eee; font-weight:bold; text-align:center;"
| style="width:10em; text-align:left;" | Year
| style="width:10em;" |Political Rights
| style="width:10em;" |Civil Liberties
| style="width:10em;" |Status
| style="width:10em;" |[[List of leaders of Armenia#Armenia (1991–present)|President (1991–2018)]] / [[List of leaders of Armenia#Armenia (1991–present)|Prime Minister (2018–present)]]{{ref|b|2}}
|- align=center
| align=left | 1991
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |[[Levon Ter-Petrossian]]
|- align=center
| align=left | 1992
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |3
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Levon Ter-Petrossian
|- align=center
| align=left | 1993
| style="background:#ff9;" |3
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Levon Ter-Petrossian
|- align=center
| align=left | 1994
| style="background:#ff9;" |3
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Levon Ter-Petrossian
|- align=center
| align=left | 1995
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Levon Ter-Petrossian
|- align=center
| align=left | 1996
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Levon Ter-Petrossian
|- align=center
| align=left | 1997
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Levon Ter-Petrossian
|- align=center
| align=left | 1998
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Levon Ter-Petrossian
|- align=center
| align=left | 1999
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |[[Robert Kocharyan]]
|- align=center
| align=left | 2000
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Robert Kocharyan
|- align=center
| align=left | 2001
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Robert Kocharyan
|- align=center
| align=left | 2002
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Robert Kocharyan
|- align=center
| align=left | 2003
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Robert Kocharyan
|- align=center
| align=left | 2004
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Robert Kocharyan
|- align=center
| align=left | 2005
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Robert Kocharyan
|- align=center
| align=left | 2006
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Robert Kocharyan
|- align=center
| align=left | 2007
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Robert Kocharyan
|- align=center
| align=left | 2008
| style="background:#ff9;" |6
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Robert Kocharyan
|- align=center
| align=left | 2009
| style="background:#ff9;" |6
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |[[Serzh Sargsyan]]
|- align=center
| align=left | 2010
| style="background:#ff9;" |6
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Serzh Sargsyan
|- align=center
| align=left | 2011
| style="background:#ff9;" |6
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Serzh Sargsyan
|- align=center
| align=left | 2012
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Serzh Sargsyan
|- align=center
| align=left | 2013
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Serzh Sargsyan
|- align=center
| align=left | 2014
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Serzh Sargsyan
|- align=center
| align=left | 2015
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Serzh Sargsyan
|- align=center
| align=left | 2016
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Serzh Sargsyan
|- align=center
| align=left | 2017
| style="background:#ff9;" |5
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Serzh Sargsyan
|- align=center
| align=left | 2018
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Serzh Sargsyan
|- align=center
| align=left | 2019
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |[[Nikol Pashinyan]]
|- align=center
| align=left | 2020
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Nikol Pashinyan
|- align=center
| align=left | 2021
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |4
| style="background:#ff9;" |Partly Free
| style="background:#ff9;" |Nikol Pashinyan
|}
|}

== See also ==
* [[Armenia in the Council of Europe]]
* [[Capital punishment in Armenia]]
* [[Europe in Law Association]]
* [[Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly–Vanadzor]]
* [[Helsinki Committee of Armenia]]
* [[Human rights in Europe]]
* [[Human rights in Asia]]
* [[Telecommunications in Armenia#Censorship|Internet censorship in Armenia]]
* [[LGBT rights in Armenia]]
* [[Open Society Foundations–Armenia]]
* [[Social issues in Armenia]]
* [[Social protection in Armenia]]

==Notes==
:1.{{note|a}}Note that the "Year" signifies the "Year covered". Therefore the information for the year marked 2008 is from the report published in 2009, and so on.
:2.{{note|b}}As of 1 January.

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://hrw.org/doc/?t=europe&c=armeni Human Rights Watch: Armenia]
* [http://hra.am Human Rights in Armenia website]
* [https://www.ombuds.am/ Human Rights Defender of Armenia]
* [http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/178/ Censorship in Armenia] - [[International Freedom of Expression Exchange|IFEX]]

{{Asia in topic|Human rights in}}
{{Human rights in Europe}}
{{Armenia topics}}

[[Category:Human rights in Armenia| ]]
[[Category:Human rights by country|Armenia]]