On January 7, 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) issued its judgment in the case of Minasyan and Others v. Armenia, brought forward by Pink Armenia, finding that the Armenian government had failed to protect LGBTQI activists from hate speech and discrimination.
The case arose from a 2014 article published in the Armenian newspaper Iravunk titled “They Serve the Interests of the International Homosexual Lobby: the Blacklist of Enemies of the Nation and the State.” Written by the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, the article targeted LGBTQI activists and supporters by labeling them as “internal enemies” and explicitly inciting the public to ostracise them. The publication included personal Facebook profiles of the activists and called for widespread discrimination, including avoiding any interaction with them, refusing to hire them, and excluding them from public and professional life.
Subsequent articles by the same editor reinforced this rhetoric, using discriminatory language and perpetuating harmful stereotypes about the LGBTQI community. The sustained attacks created a hostile environment for activists, undermining their dignity and safety.
The case was brought by 14 Armenian nationals, including prominent LGBTQI activists, human rights defenders, and researchers. These individuals had been directly targeted by the Iravunk articles for their advocacy and perceived association with the LGBTQI community. They pursued justice with the support of Pink Armenia, a leading LGBTQI rights organisation in the country.
The 14 applicants, having failed to find effective legal remedies in Armenian courts, appealed to the European Court of Human Rights.
The European Court of Human Rights found that the Armenian government failed to protect LGBTQI activists from hate speech and discrimination, violating Articles 8 (respect for private life) and 14 (non-discrimination) of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Court ruled that Armenia lacked effective legal safeguards against hate speech, particularly targeting individuals based on their sexual orientation or activism.
While the hate speech itself was perpetrated by the editor of Iravunk, the government’s inaction and failure to provide effective legal and institutional safeguards against such violations were found to be in breach of its obligations under the Convention. The Court emphasised Armenia’s positive obligation to ensure protection and combat discriminatory hate speech effectively.
Thanks to Pink Armenia’s efforts, the state is obligated to take measures to ensure the existence of effective mechanisms to protect individuals from hate speech, including incitement to discrimination. Pink Armenia will be engaged in monitoring the implementation of this judgment.
This victory demonstrates the important role of LGBTQI civil society organisations, using the law and courts to create meaningful change.
Learn more about Pink Armenia’s work here.