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According to Article 9.3 of the law on Audiovisual Media, the audio-visual programmes of an erotic nature and films containing horror and obvious violence, as well as the programmes that have a possible negative impact on the health, mental and physical development, and upbringing of minors, can be broadcast at 12am-06am. It is proposed to add the films and audio-visual programmes containing propaganda of the criminal subculture to that series.

Addenda to the law on Audiovisual Media are proposed by the MPs Alen Simonyan and Artur Hovhannisyan. The issue was debated in the second reading at the sitting of the NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sport.

Clarifying the definition of ‘criminal subculture propaganda’, Artur Hovhannisyan underlined that it is to ensure the spread of romanticized characters of the criminal subculture through audio-visual media.

The MP added that the justifications and the existing standards presented by the partners of the Commission on TV and Radio were also taken into consideration.

“Promoting the actions contained in the Criminal Code in the public multiplex during the day is not correct and has a negative impact on public relations,” the co-author of the bill stated and spoke about the negative impact of these scenes especially on teenagers.

In his related report, the Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan underscored that the Government’s concern is more about the methodology of solutions. Noting that the Executive endorsed the initiative, the Minister proposed to organize extended discussions and find more systematic solutions for the regulation of sectorial problems.

It was emphasized that in the era of modern technological development, when the Internet and cable TV provide wide access, partial solutions may not be so effective.

In her related report, the MP Hasmik Hakobyan proposed to vote for the draft. She highlighted such restrictions especially from the viewpoint of keeping teenagers away from scenes that have a negative impact on public relations.

The issue was endorsed by the Committee.

The debate of the legislative package providing for amendments and addenda to the laws on Professional Education and Training, on Education and the related laws has been postponed for a period of up to two months.