Regarding Armenia’s recent drop in the 2021 World Press Freedom Index, Yerevan Press Club President Boris Navasardyan noted the restrictions placed on the media last year during the Artsakh war and the coronavirus epidemic and the fact that no clear media monitoring policy exists in the country.

According to the Index, published by Reporters Without Borders, Armenia dropped two spots, from 61 in 2020 to 61 out of 180 countries.

“Transparent media ownership and journalistic independence are still far from being achieved,” the Index states regarding Armenia.

"In cases when these initiatives and bills are not fully professionally developed, do not meet international standards, it immediately affects Armenia's rating in terms of freedom of the press and speech, Navasardyan remarked during an online discussion today to mark World Press Freedom Day.

Navasardyan accused Pashinyan’s government of legislatively attempting to monitor the media as previous governments had done.

"Until now, the impact on the market with different regulations is mainly aimed at changing the political balance, not creating a favorable economic environment for the media," said Navasardyan.

He said another issue is insufficient development of media literacy in Armenia.

The Index notes: “Media diversity has blossomed but the government that emerged from Armenia’s “velvet revolution” in the spring of 2018 has failed to reduce the media’s polarisation.”

Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression President Ashot Melikyan said that misinformation in Armenia was widespread.

"We see how widespread misinformation, manipulations, insults and slander have become. Of course, we see it in our information field. I think this is the biggest problem in the media. I think the media suffered a major setback because of the pandemic. The media has become even more dependent on the funding of various political forces. Of course, this is seen around the world and in Armenia," Melikyan said.