IN RATING OF COUNTRIES ON FREEDOM OF PRESS, ARMENIA GATHERED 25.5 POINTS

Yerevan, December 4. ArmInfo. According to the regular annual
investigation of the "Reporters Without Borders" organization, Armenia
takes the 101-102 places (25.5 points) by the level of the freedom
of press, having slightly increased its indicators against 2005,
when the country was at 102-105 places (26.0 points).

The neighboring Georgia, having gathered 21.0 points, has turned out
to be at the 89th place instead of the 99th place in 2005. Azerbaijan
has also advanced, though it is still behind of Armenia being at the
135-136th places instead of the 141st place in 2005. Russia with 48.67
points has turned out to be in an unenviable state by the degree of
the freedom of press. It was given the 147th place by the "Reporters
Without Borders".

As RBC reports, over 160 countries were evaluated by the level of
observance of the freedom of speech. The facts of its violation,
expressed in the arrests and convictions of journalists for the
professional activity, as well as in the acts of physical influence,
negatively reflected on the reputation of states.

As the experts note, it seems the northern climate favourably affects
the freedom of speech: only Ireland of the four leader- countries by
the level of the freedom of speech is noted for comfortable weather
conditions, that one can not say of Finland. Along with it, all these
countries are united by a high standard of living.

The term "freedom of press" is nearly absent in such countries as
Eritrea, Turkmenistan and Northern Korea, which traditionally close
the rating. Interestingly, the United States of America have lost 9
positions within a year.