On February 28 in Artik at the court of primary jurisdiction of Shirak region
the consideration of the suit of “Asparez” Journalist’s Club of Gyumri versus
the administration of the regional community Horom was completed. As reported,
on January 25, 2007 “Asparez” filed 9 identical suits versus the administrations
of 9 regional communities (Azatan, Amasia, Ardenis, Voghji, Mets Sepasar, Pokr
Sepasar, Shirak, Horom and Lusaghbyur) demanding to restore its right to information.
The reason for the litigation were the refusals of the heads of these communities
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. Seven of nine suits were united territorially into one case, and on
February 22 in Akhurian the court of primary jurisdiction of Shirak region made
a ruling in favor of “Asparez” (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, February
16-22, 2007).
In the process of considering the suit versus the administration of Horom community
(hearings started on February 21) the latter provided the information requested
to the plaintiff, and the claims to it were withdrawn. At the session of February
28 the court obliged the community to fully compensate to “Asparez” the amount
of the state duty, paid for filing the suit, and partially the court expenses,
incurred by the journalistic association.
Hearings on the case versus the administration of Lusaghbyur community started
on February 28 in Gyumri in the court of primary jurisdiction of Shirak region.
As YPC was told by the Chairman of “Asparez” Board Levon Barseghian, on the
very next day, March 1, the administration of Lusaghbyur fully provided the
information requested.
Hence, out of all 199 communities of Shirak region, to which “Asparez”
made inquires to in October 2006, currently information was fully provided by
72 communities, partly – by 8 communities. According to Levon Barseghian, “Asparez”
intends to bring up litigation versus the remaining 39 regional administrations
that failed to answer its inquiries.
