Armenia restricts foreign media content

In Armenia, the distribution of foreign audiovisual programs interfering in the country's internal political life will be prohibited.

A draft law on amendments and additions to the Law 'On Audiovisual Media' was presented for discussion in the National Assembly of Armenia. It proposes to ban the distribution of audiovisual programs containing information aimed at the violent overthrow of the constitutional order, war propaganda, as well as the distribution of foreign audiovisual programs interfering in the internal political life of the Republic of Armenia.

According to Armenpress, the draft law was presented for discussion in the second reading at the regular session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia by the Minister of High-Tech Industry, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan.

'The draft was revised as a result of cooperation with partners from the Ministry of Justice and the Commission on Television and Radio Broadcasting. In particular, it was decided that the draft would authorize the regulatory state body to establish relevant standards, for example, in cases of distributing information containing calls for war, as well as content interfering in the internal political life of the Republic of Armenia,' Hayrapetyan stated.

According to him, in accordance with the amendments and additions made to the draft, the cases for banning audiovisual programs will be clarified. Specifically, the distribution of content in foreign audiovisual programs interfering in the internal political life of the Republic of Armenia will be prohibited, the grounds for suspension and revocation of licenses for communication operators will be clearly defined, and a fine will be stipulated for communication operators engaging in activities that violate the law.