Epress.am News from Armenia
The state has to assume responsibility for freedom of expression, said Queen’s Counsel, barrister Gavin Miller in Yerevan in his speech on the topic of “Free Elections and Free Speech as Essential Conditions for a Democratic Society” at a seminar and training titled “Reliable, Responsible and Balanced Coverage of the 2012 Parliamentary Elections” organized by the Europe in Law Association, the OSCE Yerevan office and the US Embassy in Armenia, taking place in Congress Hotel from Apr. 2–3.
Miller said that he often represents the interests of media agencies and professionals in the UK on different matters in court, and as the basis of his work, he cited Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights which provides the right to freedom of expression.
Freedom of expression is often restricted during the election period, he said, and sometimes issues arise in court to defend both the the right to vote and freedom of expression.
Speaking about the situation in Great Britain, the barrister with Doughty Street Chambers talked about state intervention. According to him, during elections, political advertising is prohibited in Britain and the news media is monitored, as they have to cover all candidates on equal terms.
When a political issue is discussed on television, editors have to ensure the participation of all parties. During this period, programs on political parties, which last 5–10 minutes, are broadcast on television. Parties are allotted time in these programs based on how many votes they received during elections. Those parties that didn’t run in the elections have a hard time getting air time.
According to Miller, during the two-day seminar in Yerevan they will have the opportunity to better understand how freedom of expression and the right to vote are restricted in Armenia, and make corresponding assessments.