CoE refrains from commenting on media prosecution in Armenia June 17, 2011 - 14:56 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Council of Europe is satisfied with the fact that slander and insult are decriminalized in Armenia, Lejla Dervisagic, advisor in the Council of Europe media department said. “We refrain from commenting on trials and verdicts, since these issues refer to judicial system of Armenia. But I should say that considering cases of slander and insult, European Court on human rights pays attention to the size of penalties, which must be adequate and not high,” Dervisagic told a press conference in Yerevan when presenting CoE reaction to recent trials in Armenia involving some media outlets and the decision to increase the amount of penalties for slander and insult. Dervisagic said that CoE is ready to support Armenia in bringing its legislation in line with European standards to ensure freedom of mass media. In March, 2010, The Armenian parliament passed a bill on introduction of amendments and supplements to the civil, criminal and procedural criminal codes of Armenia regarding media activity. The law is intended to decriminalize slander and insult, as well as essentially increases the compensation for them from AMD500 thousand (about $1250) to AMD2 million (about $5000). 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 | Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. 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. |