Freedom of Information Center of Armenia.

Thanks to the FOICA’s initiative in 2009 it was possible to void the decision of the RA Administrative Court limiting the right of non-governmental organizations to apply to the RA Administrative Court asking to impose administrative penalty on officials.

On April 9, 2008, the FOI Center filed a claim at the RA Administrative Court against the Zartonk village mayor’s office, asking the court to require the mayor’s office to provide the requested information and impose administrative sanctions against the mayor Paruyr Sargsyan. The RA Administrative Court admitted the claim partially and refused to admit the part where the plaintiff asked to impose administrative sanctions against the mayor, reasoning that a non-governmental organization has no right to bring cases to the RA Administrative Court asking the latter to impose administrative sanctions against someone.

On 23.04.2009, the FOICA filed a claim to the President of the RA Administrative Court, asking to overturn the administrative court’s decision on inadmissibility of the part of the claim where the FOI Center asked to impose a 50,000 AMD fine on the mayor of Zartonq.

On April 28 the President of the RA Administrative Court upheld the FOI Center’s complaint and overturned the RA Administrative Court’s decision stating, that a non-governmental organization can apply to the RA Administrative Court asking to impose administrative penalty against officials. http://www.foi.am/en/all-cases/item/185/