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Armenia registered the largest two-year democracy score improvement in the history of Nations in Transit report by Freedom House.

The score has reached its highest-ever point for the country, with improvements related to elections and corruption in the latest edition, the report says, at the same time stressing developments regarding the judiciary, however, have raised concerns.

Armenia’s electoral process rating improved from 3.00 to 3.25 due to the transparent and mostly free and fair conduct of local elections, which were held without systematic interference from the ruling party, according to Freedom House.

Corruption rating improved from 2.75 to 3.00 due to the prosecution of high-level corruption cases, the creation of a corruption prevention commission, and the current authorities’ commitment to establishing an independent anticorruption body in 2021, according to Nations in Transit 2020.

“A national consensus in favor of political change, the rule of law, and the elimination of systemic corruption formed the basis of Armenia’s 2018 Velvet Revolution. This public demand provides a historic opportunity for democracy’s advocates inside and outside the country,” the report reads.

Armenian and Ukrainian leaders will now face the difficult challenge of managing expectations, maintaining trust, and restructuring corrupt systems without contravening democratic norms, the report says.

Freedom House calls for heavy investments in programs, that support the rule of law and strengthen independent institutions in Armenia, including comprehensive judicial and police reforms.

“Both the United States and the EU have stepped up support, but their programs should also focus on maintaining social cohesion and addressing political polarization. Overcoming these challenges could be the key to success for any other reforms,” it says.

Nations in Transit is a comprehensive, comparative, and multidimensional study of reform in the former Communist states of Europe and Eurasia.