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Amnesty International has criticized the Armenian authorities for “unduly” restricting freedom of speech in the country last year.

“The right to freedom of expression continued to be unduly restricted,” the human rights group said in its annual report on the human rights situation around the world released on Monday. “Criminal prosecutions over the legitimate expression of criticism of the authorities had a chilling effect on free speech.”

Amnesty International said following the adoption of legislative amendments criminalizing insulting public figures in 2021, more than 200 criminal cases were initiated on charges of grave insults against officials.

“On 4 July, new amendments proposed by the Prosecutor General giving the government powers to block online content it considers harmful, without prior judicial oversight, prompted concerns regarding ever-increasing government censorship of free speech on the internet,” reads the report.