PanARMENIAN.Net - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, welcomed on Friday, March 27 the swift reaction of the Armenian government in addressing his concerns about the Decree on the State of Emergency, adopted on 23 March, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a press statement on March 24, the Representative raised his concerns on the State of emergency legislation and insisted that the Сoronavirus response should not impede the work of the media in Armenia. The decree would have forbidden the media from publishing news on COVID-19 in Armenia from sources other than those released by official government sources. That restriction was removed on March 24.
“I welcome the ‘Explanatory Memorandum on measures taken by the Government of Armenia in response to the Press Release of 24 March of the Representative on Freedom of the Media’ that I received today from the authorities of Armenia,” Désir said on Friday. “I note, in particular, that the Government has decided to amend the Decree on the State of Emergency concerning the regulations of media activity in order to address my concerns, those of media advocacy NGOs and editors in Armenia, as well as the common position of the international mandates on freedom of expression expressed in our joint statement of 19 March.”
The Representative added: “I want to underline that ...
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