FREEDOM HOUSE: ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO RESTRICT FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Regnum, Russia
May 1 2006

“Although, Armenia has influential independent and opposition printed
mass-media and its constitution protects freedom of word and press,
its government continues to restrict full mass-media freedom in the
country,” Mass-Media Freedom – 2006: Global Survey of Mass-Media
Independence report of non-governmental Freedom House organization
maintains.

Research was conducted in 3 global categories: legal sphere of
mass-media functioning, political influence on information and
access to information, as well as economic pressure on content and
distribution of information. Such survey, which analyses events in
2005, evaluates both deeds of government and mass-media themselves,
for example, level of mass-media independence, corruption among
journalists.

According to the report, decrease of level of press freedom was evident
in Latin America, Russia, several African and Asian countries in
2005. Press is free in 73 of 194 analyzed countries; it is “partially
free” in 54 countries, and “not free” – in 67 countries.

Armenia takes 137th place of the list, USA – 17th one, Ukraine – 113th,
Georgia – 118th, Azerbaijan – 161st, Kazakhstan – 165th, Tajikistan
– 167th, Byelorussia – 185th, Uzbekistan – 187th, Turkmenistan –
190th. Burma, Cuba, Libya, North Korea, and Turkmenistan are recognized
to be the worst countries of worst ones in the aspect.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress