Freedom House urges Armenian PM to take concerns of media seriously

YEREVAN, July 8, /ARKA/. Freedom House welcomed the decriminalization of "grave insults" in Armenia and the government’s commitment to broad consultation on media legislation reflected in a Memorandum of Cooperation signed between the Armenian Government and CSOs, the organization said in a tweet.
In late June, it emerged that criminal liability for "grave insults" will no longer be imposed in Armenia. This provision was removed from the new criminal code that came into force on July 1.
Freedom House also urged the Armenian Prime Minister to take the concerns of the media seriously and leverage direct communication channels including through open and transparent press-conferences to ensure a healthy functioning democracy.
Over five dozen media outlets in Armenia declared a boycott of Pashinyan’s June 27 online press conference and refused to send questions. In two separate statements they condemned Pashinyan’s continued holding of press conferences online, calling the format “non-democratic.”
According to these media organizations, online contacts take place in a prepared scenario and only the questions selected by Pashinyan’s staff are publicized.
" The Armenian authorities should support the independent media and civil society by maintaining an active dialogue with them and the people to counteract disinformation that poses threat to Armenian democracy around crucial topics for the country,’ the Freedom House tweeted -0-