Armenia’s civil society emerged as a decisive force well before the 2018 Velvet Revolution and remains the country’s leading watchdog today. Yet six years on, the social mood is far from euphoric. A September 2024 IRI poll shows that only 34 percent of Armenians think the country is heading in the right direction, while 46 percent say it is on the wrong track.^[1]

Promoting Human Rights and Democratic Values

Since 2018, the government has taken swift action to tackle systemic corruption, opened high-profile corruption cases, and implemented an Anti-Corruption Strategy. Implementation, however, slowed in 2024 when the Corruption Prevention Commission’s annual report noted that just 56 percent of planned anti-graft measures had been completed on time. Civil-society monitors used that figure to renew calls for stricter deadlines.

Freedom of assembly remains stronger than in pre-revolution days. Civil society organizations working on women’s rights have achieved key initiatives, including the implementation of a 2017 domestic violence law, which has been reinforced through improved support services and public awareness campaigns.
Still, a wave of protests by SME owners in June 2025 over a planned turnover tax hike revealed renewed friction between citizens and state agencies.^[2]

The Human Rights Defender’s office (ombudsman), often working in collaboration with NGOs, has noted a decline in the use of unjust pre-trial detention due to increased oversight of police practices. At the same time, CSOs kept the spotlight on areas where abuses persist. Domestic violence, discrimination against people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ intolerance are still prevalent issues.^[3] Victim rights groups and independent monitors periodically report on police and law enforcement misconduct, the treatment of detainees, and have been pressuring. Challenges continue to demand the attention of civil society. The gains in civic space and rights protection since 2018, though significant, require constant vigilance, and Armenian civil society has proven ready to play that guardian role.

Safeguarding Freedom of Speech and Media Independence

In late 2018, the OSCE welcomed Yerevan’s pledge to strengthen media freedom. That pledge has yielded measurable results: Armenia jumped to 34th place in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, up nine spots in a single year and ahead of every other country in the region.^[4]

Public perception inside Armenia also confirms these improvements. This suggests citizens felt a new openness to voice criticism and access diverse viewpoints after the revolution. Much of that openness was enabled by independent outlets, many of which are civil-society-backed platforms, expanding their reach. Investigative media (often run by journalistic NGOs) have held officials accountable, while social media activism has bloomed without the heavy censorship seen in pre-revolution years.

Progress, however, is fragile. Draft amendments tabled in March 2025 would allow the National Security Service to block “destabilizing disinformation” without a court order. Media NGOs warn that the proposal could reverse the 11-point rise in press-freedom scores Armenia has achieved since 2023.

Another recent challenge has been the wave of disinformation and propaganda. The unchecked spread of false narratives exploits societal vulnerabilities and “threatens the fragile process of democratic reforms,” Freedom House warned.^[5] In response, Armenian civil society has taken a lead in countering disinformation, from fact-checking initiatives to campaigns promoting media ethics and digital literacy. NGOs, often in partnership with international organizations, have convened dialogues among government officials, journalists, and citizens to forge a “whole-of-society” approach against disinformation that defends free speech while enhancing the quality of information in the public sphere.^[6]

Driving Judicial Reforms and Rule of Law

Reforming the judiciary and strengthening the rule of law have been central pillars of Armenia’s post-2018 democratization efforts, and civil society has played a crucial role in advocating for change. Under the old regime, courts were widely seen as politicized and corrupt, failing to deliver justice in human rights cases. The government declared judicial independence and accountability a top priority, recognizing that an impartial judiciary is essential for safeguarding human rights. Civil-society lawyers helped draft the 2019-2023 Judicial Reform Strategy; a follow-up strategy for 2025-2028 is still under consultation, and activists complain that the vetting of judges linked to the former regime has reached only 42 percent of the bench. Without finishing that vetting, watchdogs argue, durable trust in the courts will remain elusive.

Public Dissatisfaction: The Missing Counterpoint

Public-opinion data reveal broad unease that contrasts with the success indicators often cited by officials:

These numbers underscore a core truth: civil-society victories coexist with persistent economic hardship and security anxieties.

Conclusion: A Forward-Looking Perspective

Armenia’s civil society is still a guardian of change, but the reform narrative is no longer linear. Over the past several years, Armenian civil society groups have promoted human rights, enhanced freedoms, and pressed for legal reforms with a passion and tenacity that have substantially altered the country’s trajectory. By most accounts, Armenia today is freer and more rights-respecting than it was before 2018, even if it still falls short of being a full liberal democracy. The nation’s Freedom in the World rating remains “Partly Free,” echoing outstanding concerns, but the trend has been one of improvement driven by reformist energy and public engagement. Importantly, these gains have not come without trials. 

The function of civil society in Armenia will remain imperative. Further progress on the unfinished reform agenda, whether it is finally enacting the comprehensive anti-discrimination law, fully safeguarding journalistic freedoms, or completing the overhaul of the judiciary, will depend on sustained civic advocacy and oversight. Ensuring that the promise of the Velvet Revolution is fulfilled for all segments of society, including marginalized groups, will be a defining task for the years to come.

While the 2025 press-freedom ranking is encouraging, stagnant Freedom House scores and rising economic discontent show that gains since 2018 can erode without sustained pressure and resources. Cuts or delays in external assistance, including uncertainty around future USAID democracy funding, risk widening the gap between expectations and delivery. Balancing optimism with realism is crucial if civil society is to maintain public trust and drive the next round of reforms.

Authors: 

Verej Isanians, Ph.D., CEO, Nexus Intellect Research, https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1145-9251 

[1] https://www.iri.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ARM-24-NS-01-Slide-Deck_English10.18.2024.pdf

[2] https://arka.am/en/news/economy/head-of-armenia-s-state-revenue-committee-on-protests-by-sme-representatives-they-prefer-to-remain-i

[3] Human Rights Watch. "Armenia." Human Rights Watch, 2024. https://www.hrw.org/europe/central-asia/armenia.

[4] https://www.thecaliforniacourier.com/armenia-ranks-34th-in-global-press-freedom/

[5] Freedom House. "Democratic Culture in Armenia." Freedom House. Accessed April 28, 2025. https://freedomhouse.org/programs/regional-programs/europe-programs/democratic-culture-armenia.

[6] Ibid.