Yesterday, on November 3, 168.am sent an inquiry to President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sarkissian stating the following:
“President of the Union of Journalists of Armenia (UJA) Satik Seyranyan has applied to the President of the Republic of Armenia with the request to verify the constitutionality of Decision N 1655-N of the Government of the Republic of Armenia in the Constitutional Court.
According to the Decision, the Police have been granted a broad power, including the power to give evaluations of the publications of the media, as well as the jurisdiction to present a demand for immediate removal of a publication from the pages of the media (shows, websites) and to immediately seize assets, without prescribing the scope of legal relations in which the given means of influence shall be implemented and what procedures shall be implemented for appealing against those measures. We would like to ask to provide information regarding the following questions:
What is the stance of the President of the Republic of Armenia on the specified issue?
Is the President of the Republic of Armenia preparing to exercise his constitutional right and apply to the Constitutional Court to verify the constitutionality of Decision N 1655-N of the Government of the Republic of Armenia in the Constitutional Court?” the letter addressed to the President of the Republic of Armenia reads.
A short while ago, we received the following reply from the Department of Public Relations of the Staff of the President of the Republic of Armenia:
“The President of the Republic of Armenia has always attached importance to freedom of expression and the possibility of unimpeded exercise of the right to freedom of expression.
Taking into consideration the fact that the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia has already applied to the Constitutional Court with the issue that you specified, the Staff of the President of the Republic of Armenia will follow the future processes.
At the same time, the Staff of the President of the Republic of Armenia intends to conduct additional studies related to the issue raised in your application, if necessary,” the response letter addressed to Satik Seyranyan reads.
Let us remind that on October 9, the President of the UJA had applied to the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia with the request for the stance of the latter on the aforementioned supplements to Decision N 1655-N of the Government of the Republic of Armenia.
In particular, Doesn’t this package of draft laws contradict the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia? Doesn’t this package of draft laws pose a threat to the existence of free press in general? Doesn’t this package of draft laws put freedom of expression, freedom to hold opinions, freedom to receive and impart information and ideas (envisaged by the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms) without interference by public authority at risk? President of the UJA Satik Seyranyan had written the following in the letter addressed to Arman Tatoyan:
“The Union of Journalists of Armenia anticipates that you will, by taking advantage of your powers, respond as urgently as possible, take active steps, as well as apply to the Constitutional Court. The specified amendments violate freedom of expression envisaged by the Constitution and are not proportionate to the legitimate goal that is being pursued.”
Yesterday, on November 3, in the evening, the Office of the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia provided information according to which, on the ground of martial law, Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia Arman Tatoyan has applied to the Constitutional Court with the issue of constitutionality of the restrictions on freedom of the press.
GOHAR SAVZYAN
Article by 168.am