Armenia

[AM] Amendments to Broadcasting Statute Adopted

IRIS 2008-1:1/6

Andrei Richter

Comenius University (Bratislava)

On 16 October 2007 at the extraordinary session of the National Assembly (the parliament) a package of draft laws was adopted that included amendments to the Armenian Electoral Code and statute "On Television and Radio Broadcasting". On the same day the bills were signed by the President of Armenia and were published on 19 November 2007 in the Official Bulletin of the Republic of Armenia and hence came into force.

The amendments and additions that were introduced brought some provisions of the broadcasting law into compliance with the Electoral Code. In particular, Article 11 (“Broadcasts during election and referenda campaigns”) of the statute "On Television and Radio Broadcasting" was supplemented by the clause of the Electoral Code that referred to the activities of TV and radio companies during the period of elections and referenda and was revised. According to the revised article, during the period of election campaigning TV and radio newscasts that report on election campaigns of the candidates must observe equal and fair terms, and the coverage should be impartial and free of comment. In addition, on the ballot day and the day before, the broadcasting of news, editorial, documentary or so-called authored programmes of a promotional nature as well as any form of promotion is prohibited.

The clause added to Article 37 (“National Commission on Television and Radio Broadcasting”) of the statute gives this regulatory body the function of controlling the compliance with established procedure for pre-election campaigning and entitles it to start litigation, should violations be observed.