The Freedom of Information Center of Armenia (FOICA) published its 2014 Blacklist on January 23.The Blacklist is a compilation of those officials and institutions that obstructed people’s right to access to information. It includes the heads of public institutions, which refused to provide information to questions submitted by FOICA.
According to FOICA’s website, the people’s constitutional right to access to information was violated by the following officials: Minister of Finance Gagik Khachatryan, Mayor of the town of Metsamor Robert Grigoryan, Mayor of Noyemberyan Vanush Amiraghyan, Jermuk Mayor Vardan Hovhannisyan, Nor Hachn Mayor Gagik Matevosyan, Ejmiadzin Mayor Karen Grigoryan, Artashat Mayor Gagik Muradyan, the mayor of Gyumri Samvel Balasanyan, the head of National Security Service Gorik Hakobyan, Head of the General Department of the Civil Aviation Agency Artyom Movsesyan, Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan, Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan, the former chief of the Visa and Passport Department of the Police Norayr Muradkhanyan, as well as a number of university rectors.
The Blacklist includes heads of national, local self-government, and other institutions, or heads of organizations of public importance that:
- Do not respond to information requests,
- Respond to information requests after the deadlines defined by the Republic of Armenia’s “Law on Freedom of Information.” (While the “Law on Freedom of Information” defines a timeframe of five business days to respond to written inquiries, FOICA allows an additional four busines days to allow time for postal delivery. Thus, a response is considered in violation of deadline if it is not received within nine business days after sending the information request.)
- Do not provide legal reasons for denying a request.
- Provide incomplete or false information,
- Define and/or charge illegal fees for providing information.
- Cite improper information sources.
- Do not properly publish information subject to mandatory publication in due times, in accordance with the law.
The head of the institution that violates the access to information right appears on the Blacklist because a) he or she represents that institution, both formally and practically; and b) the Law on Freedom of Information requires all public institutions to follow specified procedures and to uphold and promote the right of citizens to have access to public information, and as such, if the institution is not complying with the law, the ultimate responsibility rests with the official heading that institution.
FOICA has been publishing its blacklist of officials every quarter since 2001.
The 2014 Blacklist can be viewed in detail here.
