Freedom of information is regressing in Armenia, expert says
24.11.2017,
15:36
According to Liana Doydoyan, the chairwoman of the Center for Freedom of Information, freedom of information in Armenia is regressing because of the government’s behavior and the lack of understanding of the need for transparent work with the media.
YEREVAN, November 24. /ARKA/. According to Liana Doydoyan, the chairwoman of the Center for Freedom of Information, freedom of information in Armenia is regressing because of the government’s behavior and the lack of understanding of the need for transparent work with the media.
Speaking at a news conference today she said the government that had earlier approved the procedure for providing the maximum amount of information on the official websites of its ministries and agencies is now violating its own decisions. According to her, it is impossible to find even information about the budget and spending of the government apparatus on the government’s official website.
"Unlike the government with its negative tendency concerning the provision of information, provincial administrations work better and there is much more information on their websites," Doydoyan said.
The situation is especially bad in the General Directorate of Civil Aviation and the State Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee, which refuse to provide information, citing the alleged secrecy of some data. Doydoyan also said that a study conducted by the Center to find out the level of publicity and accessibility of information on government agencies’ official websites revealed that in the past year and a half, there has been a negative trend. In particular, government agencies’ websites are rarely updated, and when making an online request it is impossible to attach necessary files.
Moreover, the websites do not provide citizens with the necessary information, in particular, the lists of necessary papers necessary for issuing a particular document. As a result, citizens are forced to personally visit government agencies to read the paper version of the list of documents necessary for submission.
As a positive factor, she noted the reduced number of refusals of state agencies to provide the required information, however, the information they provide is often incomplete and does not contain an answer to the request. Some structures delay with answering, justifying it by the need to collect relevant data, although this type of information should be freely available on their websites.
Doydoyan urged journalists to be more active when their requests for information are denied and appeal to courts, as well as to public organizations.
In 2017, the Center for Freedom of Information presented its "Golden Key" award to the Shirak provincial administration. The best website was the geo-fund.am, a government project on improving the transparency in the extraction of natural resources. The "Rusty Lock» award was given to the Museum of Armenian History for the most absurd official answer in response to an inquiry. --0--
Speaking at a news conference today she said the government that had earlier approved the procedure for providing the maximum amount of information on the official websites of its ministries and agencies is now violating its own decisions. According to her, it is impossible to find even information about the budget and spending of the government apparatus on the government’s official website.
"Unlike the government with its negative tendency concerning the provision of information, provincial administrations work better and there is much more information on their websites," Doydoyan said.
The situation is especially bad in the General Directorate of Civil Aviation and the State Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee, which refuse to provide information, citing the alleged secrecy of some data. Doydoyan also said that a study conducted by the Center to find out the level of publicity and accessibility of information on government agencies’ official websites revealed that in the past year and a half, there has been a negative trend. In particular, government agencies’ websites are rarely updated, and when making an online request it is impossible to attach necessary files.
Moreover, the websites do not provide citizens with the necessary information, in particular, the lists of necessary papers necessary for issuing a particular document. As a result, citizens are forced to personally visit government agencies to read the paper version of the list of documents necessary for submission.
As a positive factor, she noted the reduced number of refusals of state agencies to provide the required information, however, the information they provide is often incomplete and does not contain an answer to the request. Some structures delay with answering, justifying it by the need to collect relevant data, although this type of information should be freely available on their websites.
Doydoyan urged journalists to be more active when their requests for information are denied and appeal to courts, as well as to public organizations.
In 2017, the Center for Freedom of Information presented its "Golden Key" award to the Shirak provincial administration. The best website was the geo-fund.am, a government project on improving the transparency in the extraction of natural resources. The "Rusty Lock» award was given to the Museum of Armenian History for the most absurd official answer in response to an inquiry. --0--
