Andranik Shirinyan, who represents Freedom House in Armenia, says the organization is very concerned over the first guilty verdict handed down by Armenian courts following the criminalization of “grave insult”.

 "The implementation of this legislation, resulting in more than 260 criminal cases initiated in 2022, signifies a clear regression of democratic norms in Armenia and a frightening effect on free speech, Shirinyan said in a statement.

Shirinyan called for the law to be repealed, arguing that it grossly violates the Constitution of Armenia, the country's obligations under the OSCE and the principles enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights, to which Armenia is a party.