Ignoring Important Issues, Authorities Are Targeting Media. "Zhoghovurd"

Ignoring all the challenges facing the country, the authorities have spent all their time drafting new projects against the media. It is not enough that the "My Step" faction in the National Assembly initiated changes to the law on mass media, aiming to deprive media outlets of their global right to refer to anonymous sources; now the Ministry of Finance has proposed yet another new draft, this time aimed at curtailing advertisements.

The proposal concerns advertisements for online gambling and betting. The new draft suggests amending Article 15 of the law. "Any form of advertising for gambling or online gambling or casinos or betting companies, including through radio, television, or the Internet, is prohibited, except on its official website or on the buildings or premises of casinos or online gambling or betting establishments, at the border entry points of the Republic of Armenia, as well as in hotels that meet qualification requirements and standards of at least four stars, or in cases defined by this article. Advertising for draws or combined lotteries is also allowed at points of sale for draws or combined lotteries," the amendment states.

However, it is noteworthy that the Ministry of Finance has already put forth draft projects restricting advertisements, one of which suggested limiting the size of this kind of advertisement to 20 percent of the page. This indicates that the ministry itself is still undecided about what to do. If they have decided to combat gambling, they should not sponsor those who organize gambling, using funds generated from gambling to maintain fake news factories, but rather close down such organizations.

Nevertheless, the government continues to protect the nests of gambling, allowing them to place ads on platforms like Facebook, Google, Yandex, while restricting their advertising on news sites or hotels. Lottery organizers will find ways to get their money, and gambling will continue to thrive in our country; however, media outlets will suffer significant financial losses. In other words, the government is not regulating the sector, but instead, it is once again harming the media," reports the "Zhoghovurd" newspaper.