Armine Arakelyan, a citizen of Kentron district of Yerevan who pays conscientiously the rates for public services demanded by Kentron condominium every month, wanted once to know what the money collected of the inhabitants is spent on. So she applied to the condominium with a questionnaire made by herself receiving however a denial.
Without delay Armine applied to the court and brought in an action against Kentron condominium.
“It is my right to know what the money is spent on, and if the condominium administration act legally, it won’t be difficult for them to hand information to the habitants,” says Armine.
The court verdict was for Arakelyan and Kentron condominium was obliged to give the information demanded by the citizen, however the condominium managing staff didn’t change their opinion.
“Are we the law victims?” asks Robert Galoyan, head of Kentron condominium. “If so, let all the habitants come and demand an account. And we’ll leave our job and answer their questions. Our state budget is created of the citizens’ taxes. Go and ask the president to give an account. Say that it’s your right and see whether he gives information or not.”
Armine Arakelyan, a citizen of Kentron district of Yerevan who pays conscientiously the rates for public services demanded by Kentron condominium every month, wanted once to know what the money collected of the inhabitants is spent on. So she applied to the condominium with a questionnaire made by herself receiving however a denial.
Without delay Armine applied to the court and brought in an action against Kentron condominium.
“It is my right to know what the money is spent on, and if the condominium administration act legally, it won’t be difficult for them to hand information to the habitants,” says Armine.
The court verdict was for Arakelyan and Kentron condominium was obliged to give the information demanded by the citizen, however the condominium managing staff didn’t change their opinion.
“Are we the law victims?” asks Robert Galoyan, head of Kentron condominium. “If so, let all the habitants come and demand an account. And we’ll leave our job and answer their questions. Our state budget is created of the citizens’ taxes. Go and ask the president to give an account. Say that it’s your right and see whether he gives information or not.”
The Law on Freedom of Information was adopted in 2003. However a few citizens enjoyed their rights assigned by this law during the past 5 years. One of the reasons is that the number of the citizens aware of their rights like Armine is little in Armenia and rather less the number of those ready to restore their rights via courts.
According to Shushan Doydoyan, head of Armenia’s Freedom of Information Center the number of such people won’t exceed the number of one hand only, “The citizens have not confidence towards the judicial bodies and they don’t also want to spend money and time, because sometimes legal processes last several months. That’s why people don’t apply to the courts.”
The survey conducted by the journalists among 52 citizens, aged 35-59, in Republic Square shows that none of the citizens is aware of the Law on Freedom of Information, and they solve their problems with local self-governing bodies through their circle of acquaintances working at those institutions.
“I have a friend working in the community administration. Whenever I have a question, I call him and get information of him,” says Harutyun, 47, from Shengavit Community. Another citizen told he addresses his questions just to the head of the community. “Our community head knows me and never turns me down,” says Garnik, 54, from Nork-Marash Community.
The citizens surveyed were surprised of why the official violating their rights of being informed should be brought to responsibility by them. “Isn’t it shameful to appeal to the court for some information? It is better to go to him, to speak to him, to make him understand one needs his help, and perhaps he will understand,” says 41-year-old Larisa.
During ten months of this year 17 citizens with an already conquered shame besides the court applied also to the Ombudsman to restore their rights of being informed. All their applications were accepted by the Ombudsman’s Office, however the decisions adopted by the Ombudsman is not an obliged condition for state officials to accept them.
To release the citizens of legal fuss Freedom of Information Commissioner’s Offices (FICO) operate in such democratic countries like France, the USA, and Canada, accepting the citizens’ claims and adopting decisions obligatory for the state bodies’ acceptance.
According to Shushan Doydoyan while discussing the Law draft on Freedom of Information, a separate chapter was devoted to (FICO) establishment, but the chapter was not placed in the Law.
“It was considered to be a luxury for a country like Armenia, thus the Ombudsman was authorized to fulfill those responsibilities,” says Doydoyan.
The article was prepared as part of the seminar “Raising the Role of the Media in Covering Justice and Law Enforcement System”, organized by “Journalists for the Future” NGO