Armenia to impose sanctions against foreign broadcasters for interference in domestic politics

YEREVAN, February 13. /ARКА/. During its session on Friday, the National Assembly of Armenia approved amendments to the Law "On Audiovisual Media" in its first reading, which will enhance oversight of foreign broadcasters.

Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan explained that the draft includes new regulatory measures, such as the potential for sanctions against foreign broadcasters that interfere in Armenia's internal political affairs.

"The aim of this initiative is to bolster the country's information security, mitigate the influence of harmful information on the populace, close existing legal loopholes, and establish a fair competitive environment," Hayrapetyan remarked.

He pointed out that the existing law, which was enacted in July 2020, mainly governs the operations of the public multiplex—26 television channels that are freely available across the nation—while cable and internet services are mostly unregulated.

"The suggested amendments aim to extend the existing regulations for the public multiplex to cable networks. Additionally, specific requirements will be introduced for foreign television channels that are broadcast via network operators in Armenia," Hayrapetyan added.

Hayrapetyan indicated that if any interference in domestic politics is identified, the regulatory authority—the Television and Radio Commission—will have the power to impose penalties on the network operator.

The minister further mentioned that if any legal actions are initiated, the operator must halt broadcasts until a conclusive decision is reached. Failure to comply will result in liability for the operator.

The draft law revises the penalties and outlines the conditions and processes for license suspension or revocation. According to Hayrapetyan, the bill's provisions are aligned with 2010 EU directives and are crafted to avoid infringing on freedom of speech or being perceived as censorship.-0-