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At May 19 sitting of the RA NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sport, the Chairman of the RA Commission on TV and Radio Tigran Hakobyan presented the annual report on the activity for 2020. Taking into account the circumstance of being an extensive report, he has briefly referred to the main thesis which are mostly discussed by the society and which become a cause for concern. Speaking about freedom of information in the sphere of media, the rapporteur noted that the principles of democracy – ensure freedom of media, assumed obligations not to interfere in the activity of media declared by the Government from 2018 were mainly preserved. According to the rapporteur, the Commission did not receive serious complaints during the financial year.

Documenting that there are numerous factors which have a negative impact on the sphere, Tigran Hakobyan has underlined the influence and the intervention of different founders, shareholders, political forces and individuals on the media. According to the Commission Chairman, they should implement legislative and quite extensive work in that respect.

Tigran Hakobyan stated that there were no any interference and guidance or trials of guidance in the acceptance of decisions or in the activity of the Commission in the financial year.

He informed that the massive media filed 11 lawsuits against the decisions of the Commission in 2019-2020.

The rapporteur, highlighting the adoption of the law on Audiovisual Media, has noted that a number of problems have occurred during the applicability, and there is a necessity of certain legislative amendment.

Tigran Hakobyan answered the questions of the Committee members which referred to freedom of media – abuses of some media, steps aimed at the necessary restriction of freedom of speech and the regulation of live streaming.