Armenien verbesserte sich im World Press Freedom Index von Reporter ohne Grenzen (RSF) um sechs Plätze, Aserbaidschan fiel um 13 Plätze, während Georgien um 26 Plätze im Index zurückfiel.

Hmm, I thought Armenia was still dealing with a multitude of issues when it comes to press security and freedom. I was certain that in the freedom house report Armenia’s press security went down but I’m probably just wrong. For Georgia to fall so far, I’m wondering how much is due to the foreign agents bill and how much is due to corruption and repression? Still, Azerbaijan’s placement isn’t even remotely surprising but it’s not a good look for the region when one of the two semi functioning democracies in the region is going downhill so quickly.

>Armenia ranked highest amongst the South Caucasus three at 43, gaining six places over its rank last year.

>‘In Armenia (**43th**), the press freedom situation is classified as “satisfactory”. So it can be called the “new hope” of the Caucasus region’, said Cavalier while noting that Armenia had yet to address a number of challenges faced by journalists in the country. 

>‘There is room for improvement though. Despite a pluralistic environment, the media landscape remains polarised.’

>She also said that Armenia was facing an ‘unprecedented level of disinformation and hate speech’ following the surrender of Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2022 and the ‘ongoing threat of war with Azerbaijan’.

>‘To go deeper into the analysis, the safety of journalists (highest score) is guaranteed in the country, whereas the economic environment (lowest score) is difficult. It is due to a lack of ownership transparency and editorial independence.’

>Cavalier also praised Armenia’s ratification of the International Criminal Court’s Rome Statute, which she said could help lower ‘levels of impunity for crimes committed against journalists’.

Georgia for comparison is at 103th. We truly are the last bastion of freedom in the region.