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Reporters Without Borders (RSF) took to Twitter on Thursday to warn against a draft law that restricts access to environmental information in Armenia, following approval of amendments by the government.

“It violates the principle of transparency yet adopted by the authorities,” RSF tweeted.

The statement refers to the amendments proposed by the Ministry of Environment to the Armenian law on Freedom of Information.

The ministry claims that the adoption of the bill will ensure full compliance with the Aarhus Convention, as well as will enable the entity managing environment-related information to protect the public interest and security while dealing with the sectoral issues within the framework of the relevant provisions of the Constitution of Armenia and the law on Freedom of Information.

Meanwhile, information freedom experts oppose the measure, arguing that the proposed amendments should be put up for a public discussion. They stress that drafting laws guided by the opportunism of some of the sides, without open and transparent discussions, undermines the mechanisms of cooperation between the government and civil society and weakens the public confidence in the state.