Azatutyun.am

Logo of Azatutyun.am

Azatutyun.am is the online platform of the Armenian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), an international broadcaster funded by the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM). According to audience research conducted by Internews in 2023-2024, Azatutyun.am ranks as the most visited and most trusted news website among Armenian respondents.


The outlet covers political, economic, social, and cultural topics through daily news broadcasts, analytical programs, and multimedia content focused on events in Armenia and globally.


The Armenian service of Azatutyun began radio operations in 1953 from Munich, Germany. Following Armenia's independence, the service established a branch office in Yerevan in 2001 and expanded its broadcast reach through partnerships with the Public Radio of Armenia and private radio stations. Currently, the radio program broadcasts on Radio Hay's FM 104.1 frequency.


In 2018, Azatutyun expanded into television with the launch of Azatutyun TV on cable platforms, diversifying its multimedia content offerings beyond traditional radio and online journalism.


The outlet attracts criticism from both opposition and pro-government figures in Armenia.

Key Facts

Audience ShareMissing Data
Ownership TypeCommunity
Geographic CoverageTransnational
Content TypeFree
Passive Transparency
upon request, ownership data is easily available from the company/channel

Ownership

Ownership Structure

The Azatutyun branch in Armenia operates as a subdivision of RFE/RL INC. and is not registered as a separate legal entity in Armenia. The branch's activities are overseen by the Director of the RFE/RL Armenian Service.

Voting RightsMissing Data
Individual Owner

Media Companies / Groups

Facts

Founding Year1953

The Armenian Service of Radio Liberty began broadcasting in 1953 from Munich, Germany before establishing a branch office in Armenia in 2001.

Founder
  • United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM)

    Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is an international news service funded by the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), a US government agency that coordinates broadcasting in approximately 50 languages across multiple continents. RFE/RL broadcasts in 23 countries in 25 languages, including Armenian.

    RFE/RL was established during the early Cold War era of the 1950s with the core mission of providing objective news to countries where media outlets operated under state control and faced significant restrictions. The Armenian Service began broadcasting in 1953 as part of this effort to deliver uncensored information to audiences in closed media environments.

Other Important People
  • Heghine Buniatyan

    Heghine Buniatyan has served as Director of the RFE/RL Armenian Service since 2021. Prior to this role, she worked at Azatutyun as Senior Editor and Editor-in-Chief of the Yerevan bureau, as a broadcaster, and as director of the Maxliberty Youth Program.

    Before joining RFE/RL in 2004, Buniatyan worked as a correspondent and anchor for Armenian Public Television's midnight news broadcast and as a freelance contributor to Internews, providing weekly radio and television reports. She holds degrees in journalism from both Yerevan State University and Moscow State University, and has completed journalism and leadership training courses in Armenia and internationally. In 2004, she received first prize in the OSCE media awards in the Best Radio Journalist category for her coverage of environmental issues.

Contact15 Movses Khorenatsi Street
0015 Yerevan
Armenia
yerevan@rferl.org
+374 10 54 40 19, +374 10 52 21 69
https://www.azatutyun.am/en
RevenueMissing Data
Operating ProfitMissing Data
Advertising (in % of total funding)Missing Data
Market ShareMissing Data
Headlines
Meta Data

Information about Azatutyun's activities is available on the RFE/RL website and through the Azatutyun.am "About Us" section, which presents the outlet's editorial policy and principles.

The Azatutyun.am website does not contain a dedicated staff section, does not name the Editor-in-Chief, and does not disclose financial information.

Data regarding the Armenian branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is available in the State Register of Legal Entities of the Republic of Armenia.

Sources
Documents (PDF)
  • RFE/RL Armenian branch profile (Armenian)
    Link File
  • RFE/RL Armenian branch CEO (Armenian)
    Link File
  • RFE/RL Armenian branch charter (Armenian)
    File