Armenia categorized as “Partly Free” in Freedom House 2026 Global Report

(Horizon Weekly) – The international human rights organization Freedom House has released its “Freedom in the World 2026: The Mounting Shadow of Autocracy” report, revealing a sobering milestone as global liberty declined for the 20th consecutive year in 2025. The study highlights a widening gap in democratic stability, noting that political rights and civil liberties deteriorated in 54 nations, while only 35 improved. Against this backdrop of global contraction, the South Caucasus and its neighbours present a complex landscape of stagnation, sharp decline, and entrenched authoritarianism.

Armenia maintained its status as a “partly free” nation amidst the regional volatility, holding a steady score of 54 out of 100. This rating reflects a 23/40 score for political rights and a 31/60 for civil liberties, matching its performance from the previous year. While the report indicates that Armenia’s general democratic progress has plateaued, the country continues to perform well in the digital sphere, maintaining a “free” classification for internet freedom with a score of 72.

In contrast, neighbouring Georgia saw its democratic standing erode further. Though still categorized as “partly free,” Georgia’s score dropped to 51 from the previous year’s 55. Freedom House attributed this decline to the government’s response to large-scale anti-government protests that began in 2024 and persisted throughout 2025. The report detailed the disproportionate use of force and police mistreatment of demonstrators, noting that opponents of the ruling Georgian Dream party have faced a coordinated campaign of harassment, physical attacks, and legislative barriers designed to stifle civic and political participation.

The situation in Azerbaijan remains among the most critical in the region, with the country’s score falling to just 6 out of 100. Retaining its “not free” status, Azerbaijan has seen a dramatic collapse from its score of 33 two decades ago. The report asserts that since 2005, an authoritarian system has fully consolidated around President Ilham Aliyev and his family. Since taking power in 2003, Aliyev has used constitutional amendments to expand executive authority, abolish term limits, and undermine the independence of the judiciary and the legislature. This lack of oversight has allowed corruption to flourish, treating state assets as private wealth.

According to the findings, the Aliyev administration maintains its dominance through a sophisticated network of patronage, utilizing the state oil company to reward loyalists with lucrative contracts in exchange for political support. Public funds are also reportedly diverted to pro-government media outlets to burnish the administration’s image while discrediting the opposition. When these systemic tools fail to silence dissent, the report notes that the state resorts to harsher measures, utilizing security forces and the criminal justice system to suppress critics.

The regional trend of restricted liberty extends to other major neighbours, with Turkey scoring 32 points and Iran 10. Both nations remain classified as “not free,” further illustrating the “mounting shadow of autocracy” that Freedom House warns is increasingly defining the geopolitical landscape.