all landmine maps. However, the accuracy of into his alleged incitement of national hatred these maps was challenged by Azerbaijan. had been opened in October 2020, after he INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE’S published an online interview on problems RIGHTS faced by the ethnic Yazidis. His trial started in August and was ongoing at the end of the Many of the approximately 91,000 people year. If convicted, he could face three to six displaced at the height of the fighting in 2020 years in prison. returned to Stepanakert/Khankendi and other The Prosecutor General’s Office and state parts of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which investigative bodies failed to effectively remained under the control of Armenia. investigate attacks and threats against NGOs Some 36,000 people remained displaced in and media outlets, including looting of the Armenia and Armenia-controlled Nagorno- offices of Radio Free Europe/Radio Karabakh, and 24,000 of them from areas Liberty and Open Society Foundations, in the controlled by Azerbaijan faced long-term aftermath of the conflict in 2020. displacement. Returnees faced difficulties in ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION accessing livelihoods, education and healthcare. The Amulsar gold mine project in southern FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY Armenia remained halted, pending the outcome of an ongoing criminal investigation Peaceful protests and demonstrations were into intentional concealment of information largely permitted throughout the year. By on its environmental impacts. The January, the government had rescinded most investigation was launched in response to public health and emergency law-related protests by local residents and environmental restrictions imposed due to security concerns campaigners since 2018. and the Covid-19 pandemic, including restrictions on public gatherings. WOMEN’S RIGHTS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION Women continued to be affected by higher levels of domestic violence during the The right to freedom of expression continued Covid-19 pandemic while access to services to be unduly restricted. and protection remained inadequate. The The government introduced several pandemic also exacerbated the heavy burden legislative amendments curtailing of unpaid care work which continued to fall independent media and other critical voices. mainly on women and girls. In March, the National Assembly increased the maximum fine for insult and defamation to AMD 6 million (approximately AUSTRALIA US$12,000). In August, another set of legislative amendments criminalized insulting Australia public figures, making repeated insults Head of state: Elizabeth II, represented by David Hurley punishable by up to three months’ Head of government: Scott Morrison imprisonment. In September, police opened a criminal case under this new law against a The rights of Indigenous peoples, refugees Facebook user for insulting the prime and asylum seekers continued to be minister in a comment under a photo violated. Proposed new legislation featuring him. threatened to further entrench The authorities continued the prosecution discrimination against LGBTI people. on trumped-up charges of human rights Government responses to sexual and defender Sashik Sultanian in retaliation for gender-based violence against women his criticism of the treatment of the Yazidi remained inadequate. No one was held ethnic minority in Armenia. An investigation accountable for alleged war crimes Amnesty International Report 2021/22 78