COMMENTS ON LAW ON MASS MEDIA
Support A1+!After having been discussed, “reformed” and criticised unmercifully for 10 months, “Law on Mass Media” is in Parliament again .
The issue was discussed and appraised, (negatively mainly). But discussion process had no legal validity, as it was carried out like hearings.
Justice Deputy Minister Ashot Abovyan tried to introduce the Law from the stances of defence of free speech as far as possible.
But according to the experts, there are many “traps” in the Law that will be obvious in the future .
E.g., Mesrop Harutyunyan, Yerevan Press Club expert, emphasised the 4-th article of Law – guarantees for provision of freedom of speech. The 5-th point of it gives a chance to restrict spreading of Mass Media … if it contains any secret information or spreads materials, propagandising criminally prosecuted actions.
“It is ridiculous to restrict spreading of secret information after it has been spread. Then a Law on establishing a controlling body will be adopted. It’s just an attempt to introduce a censorship” , Mesrop Harutyunyan says.
By the way, Yerevan Press Club has made many suggestions and remarks over the bill and the part of them was accepted. But the remarks like the above example haven’t been taken into consideration .
Mesrop Harutyunyan also suggested to make more precise conception for Mass Media.
Viktor Dallakyan, Chair of Parliament Committee for State and Legal Matters, stated importance of the clause over journalists’ rights, commitments and protectability.
Vartan Vartanyan, “A1+” TV Company political commentator and member of National Press Club founders, says NPC standpoint hasn’t been changed and they will do their utmost to block approval of Law .
