White List – 2011

Starting from 2011 the Freedom of Information Center publishes the annual White List. All those information holders, which after being included in the FOICA’s quarterly Black list reviewed their activities in the FOI field and carried out reforms in order to ensure access to information, have not been included in the annual Black list of the officials who have violated the people’s access to information right. These information holders and their heads are now involved in the FOICA’s annual White list.

•  Mr. Harutyun Kushkyan – The RA Ministry of Healthcare

Harutyun Kushkyan didn’t answer to the 07.02.2011 request of the FOICA. By this request the FOICA has asked the following information: 1. Does the Ministry have any documents that were declassified in 2010? 2. If yes, please, provide copies of those documents.

After being included in the FOICA’s Black list the Ministry of Healthcare provided a full answer to the FOICA’s information request. Besides, the employee of the Ministry, because of whom the Ministry was included in the Black list, got a reprimand. In addition, Mr. Harutyun Kushkyan publicly announced that they would be consistent, so that the information would always be provided within the defined time frames. FOICA’s further monitoring showed that in the FOI field the situation in this Ministry was reformed.

•  Sargis Kharaqeshishyan – Mayor of Stepanavan

Sargis Kharaqeshishyan didn’t answer to the FOICA’s 18.04.2011 request. He didn’t provide the copy of a decision of the Stepanavan Council of Elders, by which was defining a payment for information provided by the Stepanavan municipality: 500 AMD for 1 page.

After being included in the FOICA’s quarterly Black list Stepanavan Council of Elders made void its decision by which a payment for information provided by the Stepanavan municipality was defined 500 AMD for 1 page. The Stepanavan municipality also provided a full answer to the FOICA’s request.

Black list – 2011

These officials have violated the people’s access to information right in 2011

• Mr. Armen Yeritsyan – The RA Minister of Emergency Situations

On October 19, 2011, the Freedom of Information Center sent an information request to the RA Ministry of Emergency Situation asking to provide the following information: 1. Does the Ministry have any documents that were declassified in 2010? 2. If yes, please, provide copies of those documents. This was the second request with the same content, as the Ministry didn’t answer the FOICA’s request of March 29, 2011. The second request also remained unanswered. As an answer to the FOICA’s 07.02.2011information request about the declassified documents the RA Ministry of Emergency Situations made a reference to the RA Special Investigatory Service, noting that the asked documents were confiscated by the SIS. But The Special investigatory Service informed the Freedom of Information Center that the copies of the confiscated documents were left in the Ministry of Emergency Situation. In other words, the Ministry of Emergency Situation is considered to be the information holder in this case. Thus, on March 29, 2011, the Freedom of Information Center once again sent an information request to the Ministry asking to provide the abovementioned information, but the FOICA’s request was left unanswered.

The RA Minister of Emergency Situations also left the FOICA’s 25.05.2011 request unanswered, where the Freedom of Information Center of Armenia was requesting for information whether there were documents under the Ministry’s possession, which were made declassified in 2010, and if there were any then the Ministry was asked to provide their copies.

•  Mr. Seyran Ohanyan – The RA Minister of Defense

On 20 May, 2011 student Lilit Sedrakyan had sent a written inquiry to the Minister, asking for information about the number of soldiers that for different reasons died in ARM detachments in 2010-2011, and what steps are taken to avoid such incidents. The student’s inquiry was left unanswered. On 22 June, 2011 the FOICA sent the same request to Minister Seyran Ohanyan, which was also left unanswered.

• Mr. Arthur Gevorgyan – Head of the Information and Public Relations Department of Yerevan Municipality

Arthur Gevorgyan did not answer to journalist Arman Gharibyan’s 23.06.2011 information request that was sent to the official e-mail address of Yerevan municipality. With this request the journalist was asking how many kindergartens are currently operating in Yerevan and how many had been closed since 2000. By the way, the journalist had called and checked that the request had been received.

• Mr. Sasun Safaryan – Head of village Aygedzor

On May 10, 2011, the Freedom of Information Center sent an information request to the Aygedzor rural community asking to provide the copies of the protocols of the Aygedzor Council. The rural community left FOICA’s request unanswered. Thus, on September 14, 2011, the FOICA sent the second request with the same content. The FOICA’s second request also remained unanswered.

• Mr. Stepan Aslanyan – Director of “Ashtarak Kat” CJSC

On November 7, 2011, the FOICA sent written information requests to the “Ashtarak Kat” CJSC asking to provide information on the production of the “Ashtarak Kat” CJSC. The FOICA’s request remained unanswered.

• Mr. Tigran Vardanyan – Director of “Daughter Marianna” Co. Ltd

On November 7, 2011, the FOICA sent written information requests to the “Daughter Marianna” Co. Ltd asking to provide information on the production of the “Daughter Marianna” Co. Ltd. The organization left FOICA’s request unanswered. Thus, the FOICA sent the second request with the same content. The “Daughter Marianna” Co. Ltd provided an incomplete and unjustified late response to FOICA’s second request.

•  Mr. Boris Makichyan – Rector of the Northern University

The Northern University left unanswered student Hripsime Hovhannisyan’s 17.03.2011 information request. By this request the student asked if there were made any repair works in the Northern University in 2010, and if so, how much money was spent. On March 29, 2011, the FOICA sent an information request for Hripsime Hovhannisyan with the same content, but the Northern University left also the FOICA’s request unanswered.

• Mr. Arman Khachaturyan – Chief Executive Director of “HayPost” CJSC (ex-director)

On 12 October, 2010 president of “Marshal Baghramyan County” Robert Mkrtchyan turned to Arman Khachaturyan, but has not yet received an answer from him. On 26 May, 2011 the Freedom of Information Center of Armenia sent an information request asking in what stage was president of “Marshal Baghramyan County” Robert Mkrtchyan’s request and when it will be answered. This request was also left unanswered.

• Mr. Armen Tadevosyan – President of “Hamalsaranakanner” condominium

Armen Tadevosyan did not answer to the FOICA’s 13.06.2011 request about the activities of the county. The FOICA’s 30.06.2011 double request was also left unanswered. On June 13, 2011, the FOICA sent a written information request On August 6, 2011, the FOICA sent a written information requests to “Hamalsaranakanner” condominium asking to provide information on maintenance of the Tsarav Aghpyur 55/5 building, as well as asking for a copy of the “Hamalsaranakanner” condominium statue. The FOICA’s request remained unanswered.

• Mr. Armen Mesropyan – President of “Eryak” condominium

On August 6, 2011, the FOICA sent a written information requests to “Eryak” condominium asking to provide information on the activities of the condominium. The condominium left FOICA’s request unanswered.

•  Mrs. Vardush Kinkladze – President of “H & H” condominium

On August 6, 2011, the FOICA sent a written information requests to “H & H” condominium asking to provide information on the activities of the condominium. The FOICA’s request remained unanswered.

•  Mrs. Karine Khachatryan – President of “Avan” condominium

On August 6, 2011, the FOICA sent a written information requests to “Avan” condominium asking to provide information on the activities of the condominium. The condominium left FOICA’s request unanswered.

By the way, The FOICA has filed lawsuits against four officials out of the Freedom of Information Center’s annual Black list to receive the requested information. These court cases are: FOICA vs. the RA Ministry of Emergency Situations, FOICA vs. “Hamalsaranakanner” (“Universitiers”) Condominium, FOICA vs. “Ashtarak kat” CJSC and FOICA vs. “Daughter Marianna” Co. Ltd.

The criteria of the Black and White lists can be found here: https://foi.am/en/freedom-of-information/foi-black-list