The Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan and the representatives of the structure’s staff were invited to the National Assembly. The amendments and addenda being proposed to the law on Mass Media were discussed in parliament.
The co-author of the draft Artur Hovhannisyan, presenting the amendments being designed to the law, noted the motivation of their implementation: “Media will be banned to quote anonymous sources after issuing information. Do not make advertisement of unknown origin to the media and check the information before giving it.”
According to Arman Tatoyan, the term “anonymous term” gave a reason for misunderstanding by the specialists. It is associated with the journalist’s well-known provision of not disclosing the source: the substantiation of the presented draft law is also incomplete. It does not disclose the real goals, and it has become a reason for wrong understanding.
The deputies have claimed that the amendment does not refer to the secret sources of the media, and accepting Tatoyan’s observation, they will replace the term “anonymous source” by the term “non-identified source.” They have underlined that there will not be a provision which will restrict the freedom of speech.
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The Human Rights Defender also has noted that the fines being proposed to the Code on Administrative Offences do not envisage the possibility of individual approach and can result in inadequate intervention towards the journalist’s activity.
The working debates with the Human Rights Defender will continue: public hearings are also designed.