The Union of Journalists of Armenia calls on the President of Armenia to not sign the bill on making amendments to the Civil Code of Armenia that was adopted by the National Assembly today and that envisages setting up to AMD 3,000,000 fine for offense instead of the existing AMD 1,000,000 and up to AMD 6,000,000 fine for defamation instead of the existing AMD 2,000,000.

In regard to the law, the Union has also addressed Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan to consider the opportunities to challenge the constitutionality of the law through the existing legal toolkit ad procedures.

The Union adds that the amendments are directly targeted against freedom of _expression_ and the media and fit in the logic of the incumbent authorities’ policy on the mass media and freedom of _expression_. According to the Union, the amendments have been adopted due to the authorities’ overt desire and initiative to make the judiciary controllable.