Armenian parliament approves law restricting some foreign broadcasts

The Armenian parliament has approved amendments to the “On Audiovisual Media” law that allow authorities to restrict the broadcast of foreign television content considered to interfere in the country’s internal affairs.

The legislation, passed in its second and final reading, prohibits public television from airing foreign programmes that are deemed to contain “signs of interference” in domestic political processes, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media. 

According to Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, the regulatory body will be empowered to define criteria for identifying content that may constitute incitement to war or interference in internal affairs.

He said the rules would specify cases in which audiovisual content could be banned, including material assessed as influencing political processes such as government formation, elections, or referendums. He also noted that media outlets funded, established, or controlled by foreign states or affiliated organisations could fall under the regulation, while factual analytical programming without evaluative content may be exempt.

The move follows earlier government statements signalling concern over the influence of foreign media broadcasts in Armenia. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has previously warned that foreign television channels that “disrespect” Armenia’s internal affairs could face restrictions, while parliamentary officials have raised the possibility of suspending certain foreign broadcasts, including Russian channels.

Russian television channels are currently retransmitted in Armenia via public television infrastructure.

By Sabina Mammadli