Freedom House concerned about Armenia’s anti-defamation lawMay 20, 2022 - 17:51 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Marc Behrendt, the Director for Europe and Eurasia programs at Freedom House, has said that Armenia has made progress in democracy and human rights, but added that the organziation is concerned about legislation criminalizing defamation, Factor TV reports. Behrendt told a forum on Armenian democracy in Yerevan on Friday, May 20 that the new law could restrict freedom of expression in the country. He urged the government and the National Assembly to pay attention to criticism on the matter. The expert also assured that Freedom House will do their best to achieve positive changes in the fight against disinformation in Armenia Earlier too the organization slammed the new legislation as "controversial", which it said signifies a clear degradation of democratic norms in Armenia, including freedom of expression. Freedom House called on the Armenian authorities to immediately cease enforcement of the law. Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. U.S. believes peace is “possible” in South Caucasus The United States continues to believe that peace is possible in the South Caucasus, Vedant Patel said. |