News & events
09.09.2009 The FOICA has applied to the Constitutional Court
On 09 September the Freedom of Information Center applied to the Constitutional Court of the RoA with a demand to consider anti-constitutional Articles 151 and 152 of the RoA Code of Administrative Procedures. To consider Article 151 of the RoA Code of Administrative Procedures as contradictory with Articles 18 and 19 of the RoA Constitution and invalid on these parts, since it stipulates without an exception that “Cases on subjecting to administrative liability can...
18.08.2009 FOICA Supports the Introduction of Mulberry System
On August 18, the Freedom of Information Center provided two computers, free of charge, to the Gegharkunik marzpetaran in order to support the introduction of the Mulberry electronic management system. The RA Ministry of Territorial Administration is going to introduce the Mulberry software in the Gegharkunik marzpetaran in October and organize special training for the staff in order to teach them the skills required to run it. The plan is to introduce the Mulberry system in 23...
13.08.2009 Be a Participant Rather than a Demander
On August 12, the FOI Center organized a working discussion on how to apply the RA Freedom of Information Law for staff members of the Shirak marzpetaran and community leaders. The FOI expert M. Hakobyan presented the principles of the Freedom of Information Law that would enable the participants of the discussion to work on the basis of the law, be less vulnerable and more protected. The law should become an effective work tool, which would result in the public being informed about...
10.08.2009 An Official Works When There is a Demand
On August 6, the FOI Center was in the Ararat marz. The purpose of the visit was to organize a working discussion for 43 representatives of the marzpetaran and local self-governance bodies. FOI expert M. Hakobyan first talked about the advantages of being informed, presented the FOI law and described in detail why should local self-governance bodies and civil servants work in an open fashion. Like in other marzes, the participants of the working discussion were particularly interested...
08.07.2009 Administrative Fine for Failure to Provide Information
The RA Administrative Court imposes an administrative penalty in the form of a fine on an official for violating a person’s right to information, for the first time. On July 6, the RA Administrative Court, with Judge Arthur Poghosyan presiding, reached an unprecedented verdict when it upheld the Freedom of Information Center’s claim to impose an administrative penalty on an official for his failure to provide information. As a result, the mayor of the village of Yelpin (Vayots Dzor...
01.07.2009 FOI Center’s Lawsuits against the Mayors of Talvorik and Lenughi Villages
On July 2, the RA Administrative Court (seated in Etchmiadzin) will hear the FOI Center’s lawsuits against the mayors of Talvorik and Lenughi villages of Armavir marz. The FOI Center had asked these community leaders to provide the following information: 1. A copy of the 2008 community budget, 2. Copies of community councils’ decisions on land allocations in the 2nd half of 2008. The mayors of both Talvorik and Lenughi failed to reply to information requests within the period of time...
