Strengthening freedom of expression, media pluralism, and media independence is essential for safeguarding democracy, especially as it faces unprecedented challenges today. These challenges include attacks on journalists, restrictions on media freedom, and the growing spread of disinformation and misinformation. This becomes even more critical during election periods, when the influence of false information and polarised narratives can profoundly undermine democratic processes.

On 26 February, in Yerevan, the Council of Europe launched a new Project “Promoting Freedom of Expression, Media and Access to Information in Armenia”.  This action seeks to strengthen freedom of expression by enhancing the legal framework and the capacity of institutional actors responsible for safeguarding media freedom in the country.

Participants of the launching conference - representatives from Armenian Government, public institutions, media professionals, international organisations and diplomatic missions, civil society, and academia - engaged in discussions with Council of Europe consultants, emphasising significance of the project in enhancing Armenia’s media landscape and strengthening democratic resilience.

Maxime Longangué, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Yerevan highlighted that “Since joining the Council of Europe, Armenia has strengthened its media landscape and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency by ratifying the Tromsø Convention in May 2022. While disinformation and misinformation remain challenges, Armenia has experience in addressing them and has developed a degree of resilience. Over 25 years of membership, the country has demonstrated a genuine commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law—principles that guide its policies and reforms in practice.”

Anna Karapetyan, Deputy Minister of Justice stated that “freedom of expression is a corner stone for democracy not only as an individual right but also as a pre-requisite for quality accountable and trustworthy public debate”.  

Referring to the new Council of Europe project, Anahit Manasyan, Ombudsperson of Armenia highlighted that “it starts at a crucial period as elections are soon, challenges related to disinformation and misinformation continue to affect the public information space are among the top priorities”.

Ruben Rubinyan, Vice-President of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Vice-President of the National Assembly of Armenia added that “hybrid interference is one of the most dangerous and invisible forms of political struggle in our time. At its core is the use of information as a weapon of interference - shaping public perceptions, exerting psychological pressure, and engaging in external interference in internal democratic processes”.

The introductory remarks were completed by a keynote speech of Roberto Olla, Head of the Democratic Institutions and Freedoms Department at the Council of Europe who analysed the Organisation’s set of standards in the field of freedom of expression, noting that the objective of the new project is to support and facilitate the effective implementation of these standards in Armenia.

The project will support the Government of Armenia in strengthening legal safeguards for freedom of expression, advancing legislative reforms to counter Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) in line with Council of Europe standards, and will facilitate the alignment of Armenia’s legislation with the principles of the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents - Tromsø Convention, thereby promoting greater transparency and accountability in public life. Ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary elections in Armenia, the project will focus on activities advancing the implementation of the Council of Europe’s recommendations, including also the Recommendation CM/Rec(2007)15 of the Committee of Ministers on measures concerning media coverage of elections, which sets out guidelines to ensure fair, balanced, and equitable media coverage throughout electoral periods, thereby fostering a healthy democratic process while safeguarding both the public’s right to information and the integrity of elections.

The project’s national stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to promoting media freedom and democratic resilience in Armenia.

The event is implemented by the Council of Europe project “Promoting Freedom of Expression, Media and Access to Information in Armenia” within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan 2023-2026 for Armenia.