LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA ON FREEDOM OF
INFORMATION
Adopted by the National Parliament of the RA on September 23, 2003
Article 1. The Subject Regulated by the Following Law and the Sphere of its Operation
1. The law regulates the relations connected with freedom of information, defines the powers of persons holding
(possessing) information, as well as the procedures, ways and conditions to get information.
2. This law applies to the activity of the state and local self-government bodies, state offices, organizations financed
from the state budget, as well as private organizations of public importance and their state officials.
Article 2. Legislation on Freedom of Information
1. Legislation of Freedom of information is comprised of the Republic of Armenia Constitution, the following law, and
other laws and legal acts.
2. If the norms defined by the Republic of Armenia’s international treaties differ from those in the following law, than
the international treaty norms supersede.
Article 3. Main Concepts Used in the Following Law
Main concepts used in the following law include:
Freedom of Information - exercise of the right to seek and get information from its holder, as defined by legislation.
Information - records/data of facts, people, subjects, events, phenomena, processes that are received and formed
as defined by legislation, despite of the way those are possessed or their material carrier (electronic or hard copy
documents, records, videos, films, photos, drawings, schemes, notes, maps, etc.)
Information holder - state bodies, local self-government bodies, state offices, state budget sponsored organizations
as well as organizations of public importance and their officials.
Organization of public importance - private organizations that have monopoly or a leading role in the goods
market, as well as those providing services to public in the sphere of health, sport, education, culture, social security,
transport, communication and communal services.
Inquiry - a written or oral application to the information holder with a view of seeking or getting information as defined
by the following law.
Publication - making the information available for population via printed media and other means of mass media, via
World Wide Web, as well as by other ways as defined by legislation.
Article 4. Main Principles of Securing Information Freedom
Main principles of securing information freedom are: