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.