ArmInfo.The "Sasna Tsrer" Party expressed its concern that the state intends to change its approaches to renting media outlets in state buildings. This, in particular, is about the editorial offices of the media, located at the addresses of Buzand 1/3, Isahakyan 28 and in the House of Press.
The statement of the party received by ArmInfo, in particular, states: "In the current conditions, when the free press has not yet been formed and it needs government assistance, we are very concerned about the government's intention to change the terms of the rental editions, implying a transition from gratuitous use to commercial leases.
We believe that the new democratic government should take a step towards meeting the press, abandon commercial thinking and promote media freedom.
The state, in particular, should support well-known media, providing them with edited rooms and other necessary conditions, including funding. In addition, it is necessary to compensate for the damage caused to the media by previous criminal regimes, "the statement says.
At the same time, representatives of the "Sasna Tsrer" party believe that the press should be kept at a distance from the information war, which was announced by representatives of the previous authorities and from the influence of foreign leaders. "This problem should be solved by ensuring transparency of press financing, transitional justice, as well as by lustration and cutting off illegal sources of funding," the statement said.
To note, last week the Yerevan Municipality made a statement that by the decision of the mayor of Yerevan, the media located in the building at 1/3 Byuzand address should leave the occupied territories within a month. Earlier, similar media reports (including ArmInfo news agency), operating at Arshakunyats 2 and Isahakyan 28 (press houses), which are on the balance sheet of the Committee on State Property Management, received similar notifications.
Head of State Property Committee Narek Babayan recently held a meeting with media leaders, during which the parties found a common language and there will be no new rules for the game for 2-3 years. The parties agreed that the issue of ensuring the principle of equitable distribution of state property on the basis of gratuitous rentals (maintenance fees only - Ed note) should not be solved at the expense of infringement of interests and deterioration of the financial condition of independent media. On the contrary, Yerevan Municipality don't want to meet with the media yet.