Restrictions on freedom of expression during martial law must be proportionate. This is what Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan told reporters in parliament today, touching upon the application submitted to the Constitutional Court in regard to restrictions on freedom of press.

“The Constitution of Armenia also envisages that during martial law, the state has the right to restrict specific rights, but those rights need to be in line with the specific situation. During martial law, for understandable reasons, there are also restrictions on freedom of expression so that the state can manage issues related to information security correctly. The state can do this in order to protect the rights of its citizens more effectively, but the restrictions need to be proportionate,” Tatoyan said, adding that there can’t be indefinite restrictions since this entails disagreements, especially this concerns media outlets, journalists and all citizens.

Arman Tatoyan noted that there are also problems for the police and said he has applied to the Constitutional Court to specify the issue.