On February 22 in Akhurian the court of primary jurisdiction of Shirak region
completed hearing the suits of the “Asparez” Journalist’s Club of Gyumri versus
the administrations of 7 regional communities – Azatan, Amasia, Ardenis, Voghji,
Mets Sepasar, Pokr Sepasar, Shirak. As reported, the reason for the litigation
were the refusals of the heads of these and two other communities (Lusaghbyur
and Horom) to provide “Asparez” with
copies of its budgets for 2006 and the resolutions of the Councils of Senior
Citizens, adopted from January 1, 2005 till September 30, 2006. Out of 119 communities
of Shirak region, to which “Asparez” made such written inquiries on October
21-23, 2006, 51 made no reply. On January 25, 2007 ”Asparez” filed 9 similar
suits demanding to restore its right to information (see YPC Weekly Newsletter,
January 26 – February 1, 2007).
Seven out of these nine suits were territorially united into one case, the
hearings on which started on February 15 in Akhurian. During the case consideration
claims to heads of three communities were withdrawn: administrations of Azatan
and Shirak provided the information requested to the plaintiff in full, and
the administration of Pokr Sepasar – in part.
At the session of February 22 the court committed the administrations of the
remaining communities (Amasia, Ardenis, Voghji, Mets Sepasar) to provide the
information demanded to “Asparez”. Besides, by the court decision all seven
communities must fully compensate the amount of state duty, paid for the suit
filing and partly – the court expenses of the journalistic association.
As YPC was told by the Chairman of “Asparez” Board Levon Barseghian, the hearings
on the suit versus Horom community administration started on February 21 in
Artik at the court of primary jurisdiction of Shirak region, and the date when
the litigation versus Lusaghbyur community administration would start is still
indefinite.
According to Levon Barseghian, after January 25 (the day when the organization
addressed the court) “Asparez” received answers from two more regional communities.
It now intends to start litigation versus the remaining 40 administrations that
have failed to answer the inquires to this day.
