Political Liberalization in Armenia Positively Affects Artsakh: Freedom House

Political liberalization in Armenia and the rise of Prime Minister Pashinyan's government have had a positive impact on Artsakh, according to the prominent organization Freedom House in its annual report Freedom in the World 2020. This was reported by Voice of America.

The report highlights that Artsakh stands out distinctly among other self-proclaimed territories in the Eurasian region. It specifically notes that there has been an increase in competition and civil society activity ahead of the local elections scheduled for September. A platform has been established for additional changes in the presidential and parliamentary elections of Artsakh in 2020.

Unfortunately, other detached areas in the Eurasian region, which remain occupied by Russian troops, have stagnated, with a noted decline in political rights and civil liberties.

Overall, the predominantly unfree Eurasian region resembles a "gloomy picture" in terms of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The ruling powers in Russia, Belarus, and Uzbekistan have maintained their authority due to repressive measures, while the leader of Kazakhstan has transferred power to his chosen successor, and reforms that began in Moldova have come to a halt.

Freedom House indicates that the only positive shifts in Eurasia are partially related to the recognized leaders of free countries, Armenia's Nikol Pashinyan and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.

Regarding other regions of the world, the report states that in 2020, democracy faced obstacles globally. Not only authoritarian regimes like China, Russia, and Iran have regressed, but several countries with democratic traditions have also experienced setbacks.

Over the past decade, significant regressions have been observed in Burundi, Turkey, Mali, Venezuela, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, and more than ten other countries. The worst conditions for freedoms exist in Syria, Eritrea, South Sudan, Turkmenistan, and North Korea.