Your trusted source

Human Rights organization Reporters without Borders (RWB) has published World Press Freedom Index -2013, according to which Armenia again leads in the region and ranks second in CIS. The report is available in the organization’s website.

Out of 180 countries Armenia ranks 78, Georgia- 84, while Azerbaijan is 160th. Note that last year Azerbaijan ranked 156.

“The 2013 elections in Georgia and Armenia were calmer than previous ones. Violence against journalists was rare,” the report reads.

The organization emphasized that Armenia together with Moldova, Georgia, enjoys a significant degree of pluralism in media.

It is reported that Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are those former Soviet republics that most violate freedom of information. However, as the RWB states they are subjected to little pressure from the international community for the simple reason that they are rich in oil and gas deposits.

“Those countries are rich enough to feel untouchable; they are also wooed because of the strategic importance. That’s why mass media in those countries are under tight control and recalcitrant journalists are jailed with complete impunity,” it is stated in the report.

According to the Index Armenia among CIS countries is the second only after Moldova which ranks 56. Belarus is 157th, Kyrgyzstan – 97th, Russia - 148th, Tajikistan – 115th, Turkmenistan – 178th, Kazakhstan – 161st.

Iran and Turkey also come after Armenia; they are 173rd and 154th respectively.

Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg and Andorra top the Index, while Somalia, Syria, Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea close the list.