The EU pointed to judicial independence, pretrial detention and dissent in RA

EU publishes “2025 human rights and democracy in the world” the report։

In 2025, Armenia continued to advance its justice reform agenda and strengthen the respect, protection and implementation of human rights. However, the authorities face some criticism from civil society about the consistency and progress of the reforms. Civil society organizations also highlighted ineffective investigations into police abuses, particularly excessive use of force, lack of judicial independence, and the use of pretrial detention in criminal trials.

Armenian civil society remains one of the most vibrant in the region. Despite the polarized environment, media pluralism persists. However, disinformation, foreign interference and hybrid threats have increased ahead of the June 2026 general election.

Authorities have continued efforts to support the integration of more than 100,000 Artsakh Armenians. In 2025, the rent and utility support program was replaced by targeted assistance measures, although pressures on housing, employment and social services continued. The adoption of the 2025-2028 Gender Policy Implementation Strategy and Action Plan was a positive development, and the law on gender-based violence is already in place, but its implementation needs to be improved.

“Civil society continues to challenge the government’s disability assessment algorithm. There is still no progress in the adoption of comprehensive anti-discrimination and minority legislation.

Concerns remain about the transparency of judicial appointments and the effective implementation of integrity mechanisms. The government has also announced its intention to create an autonomous data protection agency. The opposition and some civil society have raised accusations that the criminal justice system has been instrumentalized in punishing dissent and undermining freedom of expression, including through the potential abuse of criminal law provisions on hooliganism. Similarly, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) continue to be a concern, targeting journalists, environmental advocates, and human rights defenders.

The EU-Armenia Strategic Partnership Agreement signed in December 2025 reaffirms that the EU and Armenia will work together to promote human rights. Human rights and fundamental freedoms also stand out among the short- and medium-term priorities of the strategic agenda.

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