On January 16, “Freedom House” research and human rights organization has published its annual report “Freedom in the World”. This year the report is entitled “Freedom in the World 2018: Democracy in Crisis”. “Freedom in the World” is a report viewing the annual global trends on political rights and political freedoms. 195 countries and 14 territories have become the subject of research for 2018 report, examining the period since January 1, 2017 until December 31.
Political and civil rights in Armenia
The report addresses also to the political rights and civil liberties in Armenia and Artsakh. Armenia this year, like in 2017, has been included in “partly free” countries’ list. On a 7-point system, where 7 is a negative indicator and 0 positive, Armenia has received 4.5 points. Moreover, in Armenia political freedoms are in a worse condition than civil liberties. In particular, on the same 7-point system, Armenia’s civil liberties have received 4 points and political freedoms – 5, that is – 1 point lower.
2017 elections – democratic downfall
There is a reference made to Armenia’s 2017 elections in the report. Furthermore, unfair elections showed the continual degradation of democratic norms in Armenia around the elections. According to “Freedom House”, the incumbent party applied to encroachments towards the opposition, means to threaten the electors and the abuse of administrative resources to maintain the power.
In addition, the report holds that the evident election fraud in the Republic of Armenia oppose to Armenia’s aspiration of making the relations with the European Union closer, with which it has signed the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement in 2017.
“Nagorn- Karabakh”
The report addresses to Nagorno-Karabakh in “Disputable Territories” section. In this case as well, the indicator has remained unchanged: on 7-point system Artsakh has 5 points, with respectively bad political and civil liberties and “partly free” status. Thus, pursuant to human rights organization, in Nagorno-Karabakh liberties are protected less than in Armenia, but more than in Azerbaijan.
From other non-recognized states of the region, Abkhazia is also “partly free”, meanwhile Crimea, South Ossetia and Transnistria – “not free”.
Later on “Freedom House” will publish also a detailed report on every country. Nevertheless, the published data already illustrate that Armenia will gain criticism in the separate report because of parliamentary election fraud of 2017.
Anna Pambukhchyan
“Union of Informed Citizens”
