Are Political Parties Open?

November 23, 2006

In 2007 regular parliamentary elections will take place in Armenia and the political parties will save no efforts to appear as democratic as possible. Publicity is of the indicators of democracy, thus publicity for the political parties preparing for the elections, as well as freedom of information should become the fundamental principles for their activity.

On the 19^th of September 2006 The Freedom of Information Center sent information-seeking inquiries to 23 major and active political parties in the Republic of Armenia requesting them to provide their political programs and copies of their financial statements for 2005. The inquiries of the Freedom of Information Center were aimed at clarifying whether the political parties were ready to work publicly/openly.

The publicity/openness of the activity of political parties is secured by the RA Constitution, part 3, Article 7 of which establishes that political parties shall ensure the openness of their financial activities, and by the RA Law “Political Parties”. Part 3 of Article 8 of the above Law states that the activity of political parties shall be based on the principle of publicity/openness.

A number of other articles of the said Law ensure publicity/openness of the activity of political parties.

“The tasks and objectives of a political party are reflected in its charter and political program, which shall be published in mass media” (part 2, Article 3).

“Political parties shall be acting publicly/openly, their foundation and program documents shall be published for the purposes of public awareness” (part 4, Article 3).

            “A political party, no later than the 25^th of March following the reporting year, shall publish its financial statement at mass media” (part 4, Article 28).

A month after sending the inquiries, we had the following picture: of 23 political parties 14 answered our inquiries, and 19 failed to do so (silent refusal). In addition, 11 political parties of 14 answered provided full answer. “Armenian Revolutionary Dashnaktsutyun” and “Armenian National Movement” parties provided only their political programs, and for the financial statements referred to mass media (“Erkir” and “Taregir” dailies accordingly). The remaining 3 political parties answered the inquiry partly: “National Unity” (“Azgayin Miabanutyun”) and “Inheritance” (“Zharangutyun”) parties for their political programs referred to their websites, and for the financial statements they advised to get them from the State Tax Inspection Service and the Ministry of Justice, thus refusing to act financially transparent, which is required by the law and the Constitution. And press service of “Prosperous Armenia” (“Bargavatch Hajastan”) party answered that its financial statements were zero, and the political program was under development and after being approved it would be provided to the FOI Center.

These 14 political parties replied on the inquiries maximum within 13 days. The quickest replies were within 4 days by “Orinats erkir”, “Hanrapetytyun” and “National Democratic Union” (“Azgayin zhohovrdakan miutyun”) political parties.

There were also ridiculous answers: “Armenian-Aryan Union” party indicated that information-seeking inquiry, which was made in accordance with the standard form elaborated by the FOI Centre, contained more threats than requests and they were not afraid of any threats or deadlines. However, after the return mail of the director of the FOI Centre Shushan Doydoyan, which stated that the refusal of the political party was a reply itself, and the inquiry was not end in itself, but the right of each citizen, the political party provided the required information.

9 political parties failed to answer the inquiries at all. The head of “Armenian Youth Party” Sargis Asatryan disliked the style of the inquiry too. He indicated that the FOI Centre was not the inspection service of the president and thus refused the provision of the required information.

Below we specially indicate the names of 9 political parties, who neglected information-seeking inquiries, so that during the elections citizens can easily make their decisions: