Restrictions on covering military conflict introduced in Nagorno-Karabakh

It is allowed to publish only official information about the situation in the conflict zone with Azerbaijan; and it is forbidden to refute authorities' reports under the threat of administrative and criminal prosecution, the president of Nagorno-Karabakh has ordered.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh aggravated on March 8, when Khramort villagers were evacuated because of shelling. After March 15, they began returning home, but on March 24, Nagorno-Karabakh announced that Azerbaijani militaries had violated the contact line in the Askeran District; and women and children were evacuated from the communities of Parukh and Khramort.

Araik Arutyunyan, the President of Nagorno-Karabakh, has signed a decree that establishes the rules for publishing or disseminating information during the legal regime of martial law introduced in the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, the presidential press service has reported today.

According to the decree, one may post on the Internet, including in social networks, any information of military nature, related to state security, about the situation on Nagorno-Karabakh borders, about military equipment, armed forces and other troops only with reference to information from governmental bodies and without editing.

Besides, it is prohibited to publish any materials that "knowingly falsify and (or) refute authorities' actions", and spread any propaganda "directed against the defence capability and security" of Nagorno-Karabakh.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 15, 2022 at 10:46 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.