Freedom of Information Center of Armenia.

Freedom of Information Center of Armenia submitted a petition to the Ministry of Justice of RA, proposing to increase the amount of administrative liability for violation the right to get information, as well as to put responsibility for violating the deadlines defined by law for answering the request.

"When the right of a journalist to receive an information is violated, the right to know the truth is also violated for the whole society. More than 20 years of experience in this area proves that administrative responsibility can prevent violations of the right to get information, as well as restoration of the violated right. The courts are still reluctant to settle cases when there is a non-governmental organization or media on one side trying to restore its violated right to get information. These cases become decorative, since their examination takes years, and the need to obtain this information and public demand disappear"- said FOICA President Shushan Doidoyan.

The petition submitted a draft law "On Amendments to the RA Code of Administrative Offenses", that first of all proposes to increase the amount of the fine up to 200 times for not providing the information illegally, as well as make addendum to Article189.7 of the Code to provide an administrative responsibility of fine from thirty to fifty times of minimum wages for violating the deadlines defined by law for answering the written request.

On one side, the adoption of the draft will allow journalists and CSO representatives properly protect their right to get information in case of violation of their right to freedom of information, and on the other side, this would have a preventive effect, forcing information owners to comply properly with the rules established by law to respond to written requests for information.

The full text of the petition is attached. It is also available in FOI official website.