Ms. Melkonyan, an investigative journalist from NEWS.am, has been awarded second place in the competition for journalistic excellence in traffic and public transport. Her article, “Center’s Self-proclaimed Protectors are Wasting Resources,” highlights the beneficiaries of illegal labor exploitation and human trafficking in Yerevan. Official reports indicate that these practices have been on the rise. The article also addresses the protection of victims, the disclosure of cases, and the government’s response to these issues.

The competition, titled “Print or Electronic Publications,” also recognized Mr. Arax Mamulyan from Factor as a journalist of noteworthy merit. The third prize was awarded to Ms. Sona Martirosyan from Jamnews.

The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of the Republic of Armenia, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and the judiciary and social affairs department of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports.

The purpose of the competition was to raise awareness about the problems of traffic and labor exploitation in Armenia. It aimed to contribute to a comprehensive and objective coverage of these issues, ultimately increasing public awareness and strengthening efforts to combat trafficking and labor exploitation.