Home > 2.6 Campaign finance > ARMENIA - Joint Opinion on the Draft Law on Referendum
 
 
 
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Paragraph 59
 

However, Article 17.4 determines that “other persons may use public means for conducting a campaign only upon the written consent of the authorised representative of a party to the campaign”. These provisions entail a risk of excessive limitations of the freedom of expression (see for example Article 10 ECHR), since all supporters of the “yes” and the “no” votes have to be integrated into two opposing structures. The Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR recommend allowing more than one structure for the “yes” and the “no” votes, respectively, while ensuring equality of opportunity between supporters and opponents of the referendum. [Groups advocating for a blank vote or abstention should also be allowed, without this guaranteeing them public financing or free access to media.]