Freedom of Information Center of Armenia.

On May 13, 2011, three days after President of Freedom of Information Center of Armenia Shushan Doydoyan had published the “Black List” of the officials who had violated the Access to Information Right, the Mayor of Stepanavan, on his own initiative, dismissed the Council of Aldermen’s decision (number 19- Ն), according to which the City Hall charged AMD500 for one page of information.

Because of this decision, the Mayor of Stepanavan was included in the annual and quarterly “Black Lists” of the FOICA as well as received a “Rusty Lock” award of the FOI Annual Award Ceremony on 28 September, 2010.

Moreover, the “Helsinki Citizens' Assembly” Vanadzor office had tried to make the abovementioned decision void in court, but on 24 March, 2011 the RA Administrative Court dismissed the claim, and #19-Ն decision was upheld. Thus, it was only due to the strong criticism of the FOICA and the press that the Mayor of Stepanavan by his own decision had to dismiss #19- Ն decision “about setting local fees for copies of City Hall’s decisions.”