Winners of the OSCE-supported “golden keys” and “rusty locks” awards for freedom of information announced in Yerevan

YEREVAN, 28 September 2015 – On the occasion of the International Rights to Know Day, nine awards recognizing the freedom of information were presented to the most open government bodies in Armenia, while the most closed government body was given a less-prestigious accolade in a ceremony today supported by the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

The independent jury of the annual “golden keys” and “rusty locks” awards recognized the Ministry of Justice as the best reformer in the area of freedom of information. The Office of the Armenian Government was named as an institution that has best implemented the Open Government Partnership Commitments; the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Emergency Situations was awarded for the best community initiative, while the Kotayk Governor’s Office was acknowledged as the most transparent body.

“The right of access to information is enshrined in many OSCE documents as one of the foundations of democratic society, which has an enormous power to promote transparency and accountability of state institutions,” said Ambassador Andrey Sorokin, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

He noted that since its establishment the OSCE Office in Yerevan has been working with the Armenian authorities and civil society to improve the regulatory framework related to the freedom of information. “I would like to take this opportunity to commend all the institutions that received the golden keys today. I would also encourage everyone to remain persistent in their efforts to receive information.”

Among the civil society winners, the Informed and Protected Consumer NGONGO
non-governmental organization received a golden key for the extensive use of the right for access to information. Lawyer Arayik Ghazaryan was named as the most consistent human rights advocate and Yerkir Media TV company and Radio Liberty were recognized as the media most active in covering freedom of information issues. The website of the Ministry of Agriculture was named the best in terms of access to information.

Shushan Doydoyan, President of the Freedom of Information Centre of Armenia and host of the event, said that for more than ten years the award has been contributing towards creating transparency and openness in the way government bodies deal with access to information issues.

“The award has become a powerful means to criticize agencies that are less open to public and at the same time commend the work of the ones that work in an open and transparent manner.”

The negative prize in the form of a rusty lock was given to Armavir Municipality for not providing information.

The ceremony was organized by the Freedom of Information Centre of Armenia NGO in co-operation with the Armenian Young Lawyers Association with the financial support from the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the European Union.