Ruben Rubinyan, without yet having formally assumed the powers of Speaker of the National Assembly, has decided to restrict the professional activity of the media. This was written by Marianna Ghahramanyan, press spokesperson for the "Strong Armenia" party.

"Today he has signed an unprecedented, disgraceful decision that in practice restricts media work on the premises of the National Assembly and makes it virtually impossible.

The decision 'On Approving the Security Rules in Effect on the Grounds and in the Building of the National Assembly's Premises' effectively restricts the free movement of journalists accredited to parliament. A specially designated area is established for their work.

In 'specially monitored zones,' journalists' work is prohibited altogether.

Additional administrative obstacles are being created for covering National Assembly committee sessions. A registration list of journalists is established for covering committee sessions, which must be submitted at least 2 hours before the session begins. Nothing like this has ever existed before.

In effect, journalists are prohibited from filming from the boxes of the National Assembly session hall. This means that once the live broadcast of the National Assembly is turned off, media outlets will no longer have the ability to film what is happening in the hall.

It is prohibited to video- or photograph officers of the State Protective Service while they are performing their duties. This restriction is, in essence, meant to prevent the recording and documentation of possibly unlawful instructions being carried out.

These restrictions cannot in any way be justified as necessary and proportionate measures for security.

These are simply restrictions on freedom of speech and of the press, because freedom of speech also includes journalists' right to gather and disseminate information of public interest, including, and especially, information regarding the activities of parliament.

The annex to the decision — here," she wrote.