In recent months, developments in Armenia’s domestic political life have increasingly reflected a serious democratic backslide. The country’s law enforcement and judicial systems have been instrumentalized to serve the ruling party’s internal political interests. Selective justice, the use of disproportionate legal measures, and illegal wiretapping to persecute political opponents have become commonplace features of Armenia’s political landscape.

The authorities — Prime Minister Pashinyan and other ruling party figures — make little effort to conceal their involvement in these processes. These actions are often framed as necessary steps to counter external interference and hybrid threats, according to the government and pro-government actors.

These worrying developments have been a consistent theme in our Democracy Watch reports over the past several months. Another recurring theme is the silence — or, at times, even support — of parts of Armenia’s civil society for the ongoing normalization of anti-democratic practices in the name of “protecting democracy.”

While many civil society groups and organizations have been vocal in condemning the abuse of law enforcement, the judiciary, and the broader state apparatus by the ruling party to neutralize political opponents, others have chosen to turn a blind eye, rationalize, or downplay these actions.