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Ashot Melikyan, chair of the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression (CPFE), reported “unprecedented” violence against journalists in Armenia in the second quarter of 2024 which saw antigovernment protests.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, he said CPFE recorded 14 cases of physical attacks against journalists in the past three months, which left 23 media workers injured.

"This figure is comparable to the pressure, violence and obstructions during the 2018 revolution. In the post-revolutionary years, the number is unprecedented given that such a level of violence was never recorded in a quarter after 2018,” Melikyan said.

The expert attributed the surge in violence against reporters to lack of police professionalism and abuse of office.

"There is a lot of work to do. The government should be seriously concerned about it as these figures can affect Armenia's international rating," he stated.

Melikyan said threats and insults targeting journalists also increased in April-June, while violations of the right to receive and disseminate information reduced.