Armenia was recorded for the first time on the Platform with journalists or other media actors in detention

Press freedom continued to be under sustained pressure in Europe in 2025, driven by legal threats, physical attacks and intimidation, attempts of media capture and transnational repression, according to the annual report of the partner organisations to the Council of Europe’s newly established Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists.

It is noted that at the end of 2025, Armenia was recorded for the first time on the Platform with journalists or other media
actors in detention, following the pre-trial detention of podcasters Vazgen Saghatelyan and Narek Samsonyan
on hooliganism charges.

As of 31 December 2025, 148 journalists were held in detention across Europe, including 36 in Azerbaijan, 32 in Russia, 27 in Belarus, 26 held by Russia in the occupied territories of Ukraine, 24 in Türkiye, two in Armenia and one in Georgia.