“Partnership for Open Society” initiative (uniting several dozens of Armenian public organizations) got a response from RA Ministry of Transport and Communication to its statement as of December 22, 2005. The statement of the “Partnership” expressed concern over applying the provisions of RA Law “On Postal Communication” and “On Licensing” to the companies engaged in distribution and subscription of print periodicals (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, December 16-22, 2005). Referring to these laws, the tax bodies demanded a license from the companies for distribution of newspapers and magazines by subscription. Since this requirement was a real surprise to the companies, they faced the threat of sanctions, likely to plunge them in bankruptcy. Alarm over the situation was also expressed by four professional organizations – Yerevan Press Club, Journalists Union of Armenia, Internews Armenia and the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression. They stated that the law requirements run contrary to the right of freedom of expression and create a risk of monopolizing the distribution market of print media by subscription (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, December 2-8, 2005). Both the “Partnership” and the journalistic associations called on the relevant state bodies, including the Ministry of Transport and Communication – author of the Law “On Postal Communication”, to review the law provisions.
The response to the “Partnership ”statement, signed by Deputy Minister of Transport and Communication Vruyr Arakelian, notes that on January 20, 2006 the Ministry, proceeding from the Law “On Legal Acts”, sent to RA Ministry of Justice an official clarification on Article 11 of the Law “On Postal Communication”. According to the clarification, the subscription for periodicals is not a postal service and, consequently, is not viewed as an activity subject to licensing. The official clarification of the Ministry of Transport and Communication was published in the Bulletin of RA Normative Administrative Acts (No. 4, February 1, 2006).
Thus, the claims of the tax service to the distribution companies are dismissed.
