On September 27, 2013, Transparency International Anti-corruption Center received Golden Key award for an NGO that best used the right for access to information by the Freedom of Information Center of Armenia (through USAID support) during its annual "Golden Key and Rusty Lock" award ceremony, dedicated to the International Right to Know Day. The event brought together representatives of state institutions, international and non-governmental organizations, foreign diplomatic missions and media outlets to get introduced with the organizations and individuals who were awardees of Golden Keys as symbol of openness and transparency and Rusty Locks, as a symbol of secrecy.

Upon receiving the award Varuzhan Hoktanyan, Executive Director of Transparency International Anticorruption Center said, "Freedom of information is a necessary condition for ensuring transparency and accountability, without which fighting corruption is impossible." Mr. Hoktanyan expressed hope that not only simply providing information but providing best quality information will be encouraged in future. He thanked the state institutions who provided proper information and the mass media for helping the organization in its work.

The independent jury awarded Golden Keys also to the following institutions:

- Positive Award for the state institution that was best applied the Armenian FOI Law was presented to the RA Ministry of Finance.

- The electronic system of the State Register of the Legal Entities of the RA Ministry of Justice www.e-register.am was recognized as the best official web site in terms of access to information.

- Positive Award for the media outlet most actively covering FOI issues was presented to the www.panorama.am online media outlet.

- The Judge of the Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash Administrative Districts Mr. Arayik Melqumyan was recognized as the judge who successfully restored the violated access to information right.

- The lawyer Mr. Artak Zeynalyan was recognized as the most consistent human rights advocate for the access to information right. The latter was given to Lawyer Artak Zeynalyan, who was the first receiver of Amalia Kostanyan Award.

For details visit the website of Freedom of Information Center of Armenia