The Armenian government plans to restrict the movement of journalists within the National Assembly.

Alen Simonyan, a candidate for the post of parliamentary speaker, told reporters today that reporters will be restricted to certain areas within the building so that interviews with MPs do not interfere with official work.

Simonyan argued that the new rules are needed since some reporters, dragging TV and camera equipment, chase down MPs and government officials through the building’s halls.

 Simonyan, a close associate of Armenian PM Pashinyan, described the new regulations as “security measures”, promising that journalists will still have fre access to talk to MPs and officials.