This COI Focus examines the current political situation in Armenia in the aftermath of the April 2018 Velvet Revolution, which saw the former government fall into opposition and former opposition leaders take power. Cedoca examined the impact of several events - including the war in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020 and the region's surrender following an Azerbaijani offensive in September 2023 - on the domestic political situation and on political freedoms of citizens. Cedoca assessed in particular whether there are signs of political persecution, whether citizens or opponents may face difficulties in expressing their views on political issues, whether there are risks associated with participating in anti-government demonstrations, and whether past links to the former government or oligarchs might have consequences. Cedoca also examined what protection mechanisms exist and how accessible and effective they are for citizens experiencing problems with current or previous authorities.
Research for this COI Focus was completed on 12 September 2024.