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Amnesty International released its annual report on the state of the world’s human rights on Monday. The Amnesty International Report 2022/23 analyses the 2022 human rights situation in 156 countries, including Armenia, and calls for action.

The report finds that freedom of peaceful assembly was “curtailed by the violent and disproportionate response” of law enforcement authorities to protests in Armenia last year.

"A series of anti-government protests took place from April to June demanding the resignation of prime minister Nikol Pashinyan over negotiations on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. The protests often took the form of large-scale demonstrations with protesters blocking streets and setting up tents. The response of the authorities on occasions was disproportionate, dispersing and arresting hundreds and injuring dozens," Amnesty International said.

"In one of the most violent clashes, which took place on 3 June, police fired stun grenades and used excessive force to prevent thousands of demonstrators from approaching the Armenian parliament building. Fifty people, including 34 police officers, were said to require medical attention and dozens were arrested for taking part in “mass violence”.

"Media rights watchdogs reported that at least 11 journalists were injured while covering protests from April to June; some were also obstructed from covering the demonstrations. By the end of the year no police officers had been charged with using excessive force in connection with the anti-government demonstrations," reads the report.