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ARMENIA EASES RESTRICTIONS ON NATIONAL MASS MEDIA
ITAR-TASS
March 13 2008
Russia
YEREVAN, March 13 (Itar-Tass) - Armenian authorities ease additionally
the regime of restrictions on the operation of the national mass
media, says a decree of the Armenian President Robert Kocharyan,
which was circulated by his press service on Thursday.
While covering questions of state and domestic political life, the
media "are forbidden to publish deliberate lies and information,
destabilising the situation in the republic" as well as "calls for
participation or other reports on illegal events": rallies, meetings
and marches, made without preliminary notification of city authorities.
Previously, "press reports on state and domestic policy questions"
could be made only in the framework of official information. New
rules come into force on Friday, the decree notes.
At the same time, the president repealed an item of the regime of
restrictions, imposing "a ban on conducting political publicity
by circulating leaflets and by other forms without an appropriate
permission of government bodies".
The state of emergency was clamped down on Yerevan on March 1 for 20
days after the mass rioting in the capital. As a result of disorders,
eight people died, including a police officer, while 180 policemen
and interior troops as well as 48 civilians were wounded.
They were preceded by unauthorised rallies, meetings, marches and other
actions by the radical opposition which disagreed with the official
results of the presidential elections in Armenia, held on February 19.
The Armenian Special Investigation Service now conducts a preliminary
investigation into a criminal case on a violent capture of power and
organisation of mass disorders which were spearheaded at hamstringing
the constitutional law and order and which were accompanied by killings
and violence against representatives of authorities in the person of
law enforcers.
The opposition insists that the victory at the elections was carried
by first Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan. On Saturday, the
Armenian Constitutional Court left in force the election results,
announced by the country's Central Election Commission.
Under the state of emergency, it is forbidden to stage rallies,
meetings, marches and other mass events as well as strikes. At the same
time, law enforcement bodies have "the right, if need be, to restrict
movements of people, to search them as well as their motor vehicles".
On Monday, the head of state already dumped some restrictions
which were imposed with the introduction of the state of emergency
in Yerevan. They dealt with a possibility of "a temporary ban on
activities of political parties and other non-government organisations,
interfering with the removal of reasons, leading to the imposition
of the state of emergency".
Another repealed item had granted authorities a possibility to expel
people non-residents of a given territory if they broke up the legal
regime of the state of emergency.
ITAR-TASS
March 13 2008
Russia
YEREVAN, March 13 (Itar-Tass) - Armenian authorities ease additionally
the regime of restrictions on the operation of the national mass
media, says a decree of the Armenian President Robert Kocharyan,
which was circulated by his press service on Thursday.
While covering questions of state and domestic political life, the
media "are forbidden to publish deliberate lies and information,
destabilising the situation in the republic" as well as "calls for
participation or other reports on illegal events": rallies, meetings
and marches, made without preliminary notification of city authorities.
Previously, "press reports on state and domestic policy questions"
could be made only in the framework of official information. New
rules come into force on Friday, the decree notes.
At the same time, the president repealed an item of the regime of
restrictions, imposing "a ban on conducting political publicity
by circulating leaflets and by other forms without an appropriate
permission of government bodies".
The state of emergency was clamped down on Yerevan on March 1 for 20
days after the mass rioting in the capital. As a result of disorders,
eight people died, including a police officer, while 180 policemen
and interior troops as well as 48 civilians were wounded.
They were preceded by unauthorised rallies, meetings, marches and other
actions by the radical opposition which disagreed with the official
results of the presidential elections in Armenia, held on February 19.
The Armenian Special Investigation Service now conducts a preliminary
investigation into a criminal case on a violent capture of power and
organisation of mass disorders which were spearheaded at hamstringing
the constitutional law and order and which were accompanied by killings
and violence against representatives of authorities in the person of
law enforcers.
The opposition insists that the victory at the elections was carried
by first Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan. On Saturday, the
Armenian Constitutional Court left in force the election results,
announced by the country's Central Election Commission.
Under the state of emergency, it is forbidden to stage rallies,
meetings, marches and other mass events as well as strikes. At the same
time, law enforcement bodies have "the right, if need be, to restrict
movements of people, to search them as well as their motor vehicles".
On Monday, the head of state already dumped some restrictions
which were imposed with the introduction of the state of emergency
in Yerevan. They dealt with a possibility of "a temporary ban on
activities of political parties and other non-government organisations,
interfering with the removal of reasons, leading to the imposition
of the state of emergency".
Another repealed item had granted authorities a possibility to expel
people non-residents of a given territory if they broke up the legal
regime of the state of emergency.