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Armenia is ranked 80th among 180 countries in the 2018 World Press Freedom Index, down from the 79th place last year.

The annual report, published on Wednesday by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), says that Armenia’s print media are diverse and polarized, investigative journalism flourishes online, but pluralism lags behind in the broadcast media.

“Legislative initiatives restricting the right of access to information, and reducing the transparency of public institutions are a source of concern. At least 30 libel suits were filed in 2017 against the founder of the Sut.am website in connection with its coverage of alleged electoral fraud. Impunity largely prevails when journalists are physically attacked,” the report added.

According to the World Press Freedom Index, journalists face more hatred than last year, not only in authoritarian countries but also increasingly in countries with democratically elected leaders. 

“More and more democratically-elected leaders no longer see the media as part of democracy’s essential underpinning, but as an adversary to which they openly display their aversion,” the report says.

The RSF index notes that it is in Europe, the region where press freedom is the safest, that the regional indicator has worsened most this year. Four of this year’s five biggest falls in the Index are those of European countries: Malta (down 18 at 65th), Czech Republic (down 11 at 34th), Serbia (down 10 at 76th) and Slovakia (down 10 at 27th).

Norway tops the list as the country where journalists have the most freedom, followed by Sweden and the Netherlands.