The international human rights watchdog Freedom House has officially ended its operations in Armenia, marking the conclusion of nearly four years of activity in the country.
The announcement was made by Andranik Shirinyan, the organization’s representative in Armenia, via a post on his personal Facebook page.
“After almost four years of working in Armenia, I am stepping down from my role as Freedom House’s representative, as the organization is concluding its mission in the country,” Shirinyan wrote.
Founded in 1941, Freedom House is a U.S.-based non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom, and human rights worldwide. The organization is best known for its annual Freedom in the World report, which assesses the level of political rights and civil liberties in countries across the globe.
Freedom House has been actively involved in supporting democratic institutions, promoting human rights, and fostering civil society in various regions, particularly in transitional democracies and countries facing authoritarian threats.
Among its most significant recent contributions was a special fact-finding report on the situation of ethnic Armenians in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). The report, published in June 2024, documented how Armenians in the region were subjected to systematic attacks, intimidation, deprivation of basic rights, and forced displacement by the Azerbaijani state.
The analysis covered the period from the 2020 Second Artsakh War to the September 2023 Azerbaijani military offensive and its aftermath. Through hundreds of witness interviews and open-source investigations, the report concluded that the Azerbaijani government carried out a deliberate and methodical strategy to empty Artsakh of its Armenian population and erase its historical and cultural presence.
“This was not just a consequence of conflict, but a targeted campaign,” the report stated, pointing to what it described as a strategy to displace the entire ethnic Armenian population of the region.
During its time in Armenia, Freedom House collaborated with local NGOs, independent media, and civic activists. It also worked to raise awareness about human rights issues, offered training and support for journalists and advocates, and provided funding for projects related to democratic governance and the rule of law.
As of now, there has been no official statement from Freedom House’s headquarters regarding the reason for termination of its activities and the future of its involvement in Armenia.
