Introduction
In March 2025, after more than three decades of fighting and disputes over territorial claims, a peace deal was drawn up between Armenia and Azerbaijan regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh region. According to media reports, the peace deal included Armenia recognising Azerbaijan’s claims to the region. Several pressing issues remain under negotiation and unresolved, including pending cases before the International Criminal Court and the European Court of Human Rights.
The decades-long conflict has contributed to social and political instability in Armenia, which is likely to persist, as refugees from the disputed territory face socio-economic challenges and the government faces criticism over its handling of the peace negotiations.
Freedom of Association
NGOs condemn politician’s discriminatory statements
On 30th March 2025, Vardan Ghukasyan, a candidate for mayor of Gyumri, Armenia, made discriminatory and misogynistic statements against women during a press conference. He suggested that women “provoke men to sin” by the way they dress, effectively blaming women for men’s behaviour. The Armenian NGO Helsinki Citizen Assembly of Vanadzor (HCAV) condemned the statements, stating that they perpetuate gender stereotypes and discrimination and undermine the equality and dignity of women in public life.
Ghukasyan also claimed publicly that he would shoot a priest at the altar if the Armenian Church ever performed same-sex marriages, as is permitted in Europe. According to OC Media, Armenian NGOs condemned the homophobic rhetoric, and HCAV filed a complaint against the mayoral candidate. At the time of writing, no action had been taken to address these public statements.
Freedom of Peaceful Assembly
Protests follow announcement of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal
As mentioned above, the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, militarily taken over by Azerbaijan in late 2023, is to be formally recognised as Azerbaijani territory by Armenia in the peace deal agreed on 8th March 2025. This development sparked several protests, with over 10,000 people taking to the streets of Yerevan. Protesters, primarily Armenian refugees from Artsakh—the Armenian enclave now under Azerbaijani control—gathered to express concerns over their displacement. Demonstrators called on the Armenian government to ensure a safe return to their homeland. In addition, refugees face socio-economic difficulties and discrimination linked to their unclear legal status in Armenia.
Refugees find themselves in a vulnerable position, in need of state support due to the loss of homes and livelihoods during the prolonged conflict. However, support has been insufficient, and some state financial aid has been discontinued. Concerns have also grown over discriminatory and harmful rhetoric against refugees in public discourse, including statements by Armenian officials, which could amount to hate speech.
OC Media, in particular, reported on the challenges faced by refugees, highlighting harmful and discriminatory rhetoric by public officials on social media. Such statements have primarily followed refugee-led protests, during which demonstrators urged the government to fulfil its socio-economic and legal obligations towards displaced communities.