Names of officials violating right to freedom of information published

Freedom of Information Center of Armenia (FOICA) has published the names of Armenian officials who violated citizens’ right to receive information in the 3rd quarter of 2013. Speaker of the Armenian parliament Hovik Abrahamian tops the list, the press service of FOICA said.

On August 21, 2013, FOICA asked the parliamentary speaker to provide information about calls made from mobile phones of the RA National Assembly. 6 days later the parliament said that additional work was to be done and that under the Law on Freedom of Information, they would provide information within 30 days. The National Assembly was put on the black list for the reason that an ‘insufficient answer of half a page’ was submitted with a delay – on October 1.

Among the officials on the list of FOICA are Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen Movsisian, Economy Minister Vahram Avanesian, Head of the State Revenue Committee Gagik Khachatrian, Chief of the Traffic Police Arsen Galstian, Chairman of the State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition Artak Shaboyan, Yerevan mayor Taron Margarian, head of the Kentron administrative district of Yerevan Ara Sadoyan, and directors of several LLCs.