The year of 2018 was marked by the popular uprising coined “Velvet Revolution” and the events prior to it and following it. On December 7, 2018, Human Rights House Yerevan NGO issued a special report on “Human Rights Defenders in the Revolution” (Special Report).1 This report was a reflection on the political processes at the time of the revolution in light of the activities carried out by human rights defenders, activists and journalists; restriction and/or obstruction of their activities and violation of their rights during the revolution and in its aftermath. The special report also touched upon both positive developments that followed the revolution and negative trends observed in certain areas. Adding to the analyses and monitoring findings published in the Special Report, this Annual Report aims to elaborate on negative trends in the human rights field that followed in the post-revolutionary period. This was particularly the case in relation to LGBT human rights defenders, female activists, environmentalists,as well as lawyers who have taken up defense of high-profile individuals and environmentalists. The Annual Report also covers the progress in litigation processes related to certain human rights defenders.
