Blackjack to silence mass media
Today the National Assembly held discussions on a bill decriminalizing articles on slander and outrage. The bill was authored by the RA government at the request of the Council of Europe. The bill foresees heavy fines on a person and mass medium slandering or insulting the dignity and good name of others.
"The authorities can make use of the bill in order to silence unwanted mass media," freelance MP Viktor Dallakyan announced in the National Assembly today.
Under the bill public statements, evaluating comments and opinions can also be viewed as affront.
Head of the Heritage Faction Stepan Safaryan is also concerned with the bill.
"It suggests that people will be deprived of their right to freely share an opinion and to evaluate this or that official."
Heritage MP Armen Martirosyan expressed dissatisfaction with pro-government and opposition press, and noticed that the press has become coarse because of the lack of free and independent television.
"If you open A1+ and Noyan Tapan, you will secure a healthy competition in the sphere of television which will enhance the quality of television. Moreover, people will no longer buy "yellow press" in search of finding sensations," said Mr. Martirosyan and iadded: "Instead of curing a headache you want to cut off the head."
Viktor Dallakyan says abusive press serves as a straitjacket for some officials.
"Surplus of abuse is likely preferable to the lack of freedom of speech," he said.
Stressing the role of the press, he quoted a question of Thomas Jefferson: "Will you prefer a government without press or press without a government?"
The U.S. President replied, "Press without a government."
Today Dallakyan announced that he would vote against the bill.
All the speakers, both representatives of the coalition and opposition MPs, sounded discontent with Armenian press.
Former journalist Naira Zohrabyan noted that the sphere needs to be regulated.
"We need professional press," said Mrs. Zohrabyan and reminded that in some European countries people are sentenced to 7 years' imprisonment for calumny. "The bill can have a good effect, if is clarified."
"Why should the law be changed if to date no journalist has been brought to justice under Articles 135 and 136 of the Criminal Code?" asked ARF member Artsvik Minasyan
It's good that the law did not work," said Galust Sahakyan, Leader of the Republican Party (HHK). "We only pose claims against each other. In addition, traditions have a greater effect than laws in Armenia. "
At the end of the heated discussion the author of the bill Hovhannes Margaryan said, "so many changes were introduced in the bill that it reminds me of Indonesia's map"
