ArmInfo.Freedom House also urges the Armenian Prime Minister to take the concerns of the media seriously and leverage direct communication channels including  through open and transparent press-conferences to ensure a healthy  functioning democracy, reads a Twitter message by Freedom House. 

The Armenian authorities should support the independent media and  civil society by maintaining an active dialogue with them and the  people to counteract disinformation that poses threat to Armenian  democracy around crucial topics for the country.

Freedom House welcomes the decriminalization of "grave insults" in  Armenia and the government's commitment to broad consultation on  media legislation reflected in a Memorandum of Cooperation signed  between the Armenian Government and CSOs.  https://moj.am/storage/uploads/11M.pdf

At a discussion chaired by Armenia's premier, representatives of  government agencies decided to abolish criminal responsibility for  great insult, with only administrative responsibility. 

"The Criminal Code that will be enforced on July 1, 2022, will not  impose punishment for great insult," he wrote. Minister of Justice  Karen Andreasyan added that the criminal responsibility was  prescribed by the law to "prevent outrageous and inadmissible  behavior of individuals and groups amid profound social  polarization." 

"The government considers inadvisable to include an article on great  insult in the new Criminal Code and prefers the civil liability norms  in effect," the minister added. 

However, it does not mean derogatory remarks about people will not be  punished. Those abusing the freedom of speech will be fined up to AMD  3mln.