Pressing media by Armenian authorities continued in 2023 - CPFE  Report 

ArmInfo.The results of observations conducted during the first quarter of 2023 raise concerns, primarily in terms of restrictions on freedom of information. This is stated in the message of the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression (CPFE) on the results of monitoring for the first quarter of 2023.

The Committee noted that during the specified period, 49 cases of violation of the right to receive and disseminate information were recorded, which is four more than in the same period last year (45), which was the highest figure in the corresponding statistics for the quarters of 2022.

At the same time, the Committee directly linked these results with the assessment of the Transparency International organization, which was given to our country in a report published at the beginning of the year. According to this report, Armenia's place in the world corruption ranking has dropped from last year's 58th place to 63rd place. "Such a regression was expected, because the fight against corruption begins with freedom of information, transparency and accountability of the government's activities to society," the agency noted.

At the same time, the Committee emphasized that one of the features of the observed period is that during the quarter there was not a single case of physical violence against media representatives, however, compared to the same period last year, the number of various other types of pressure increased - 16 cases against 12 in the first quarter of 2022.

"7 of the reported cases are related to insults and unfriendly attitude towards media representatives, including by politicians and officials. There was also 1 case of hacking. 8 new lawsuits were filed against the media representatives and journalists, of which 1 was from a representative of the business sector, 7 - former and current officials," the Committee said.

It is also noted that during the observed period, a number of problematic legislative initiatives relating to the field of information were presented by the authorities, with the help of which an attempt is made to create legal grounds for minimizing the provision of official data.

"So, already on December 22, 2022, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia published on the e- draft.am website, and from mid-January 2023, the draft amendments and additions to the Law of the Republic of Armenia "On the legal regime of martial law" were submitted for discussion, which under the conditions of this regime implies unreasonable severe restrictions on access to the Internet and the activities of the media. The provisions relating to them are insufficiently reasoned and full of loopholes that allow arbitrariness.

Later, on March 1, the National Assembly adopted a comprehensive package of bills proposed by the RA government, based on the new law "On State Secrets". Among many other controversial changes, the package also included an amendment to the Freedom of Information Act. According to it, requests for the provision of official data are subject to rejection if they contain "official information of limited distribution." This wording, which gives rise to subjective decisions, also creates wide opportunities for arbitrariness, because any document in state bodies can fall under this wording," the Committee stated.

The Monitoring Structure also called it unacceptable the persistence of the vicious practice when bills relating to the information sphere are not properly discussed with relevant public organizations before publication or putting into circulation.

"Meanwhile, the tripartite Memorandum, signed last year between journalistic public organizations, representatives of the legislative and executive authorities, provides for an opposite approach and attitude.  Journalistic organizations issued statements regarding these processes, demanding a public, expert (including international) discussion of problematic legislative initiatives and taking into account the comments and proposed decisions of the media and media experts," the Committee concluded.