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The February 18 presidential elections were accompanied by violence against journalists and the incidents of hindrance of carrying out professional duties. So, in the 17/05 election poll of Artashat a group of young people implemented violence against the journalist of “Journalists for human rights” NGO Artak Hambardzumyan; several people held his hands and not allowing to film, took him aside, while the others did the stuffing. Later around 19:00 the people standing next to the election headquarter of Serzh Sargsyan first prevented the journalists of “1in.am” Marine Kharatyan and “Hraparak” daily Gayane Saribekyan from entering the election headquarter and later forcibly took their audio and video equipment and cursing made them leave. Other cases of threat and hindrance were registered.  

 

Those facts once more confirm that, as a rule, in the tense political situation the cases of violence and harassment intensify in Armenia. The authorities, particularly the law enforcement bodies, usually don’t give much importance to such incidents and instead of identifying the punishing the perpetrators bring strange “justifications” for the dismissing of the case. The impunity creates new crimes.

 

We, the undersigned, express our indignation to violence against journalists covering elections and urge the authorities to take immediate measures to investigate these incidents thoroughly and objectively, and prosecute the perpetrators. 

 

COMMITTEE OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH PROTECTION

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB

FREEDOM OF PRESS “INTERNEWS” NGO

“ASPAREZ” CLUB OF JOURNALISTS

DIVERSE MEDIA INSTITUTE ARMENIA

“JOURNALISTS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS” NGO

GORIS PRESS CLUB 

“JOURNALISTS FOR FUTURE” NGO

“ECOLUR” NGO

ARMENIAN HELSINKI COMMITTEE

“RULE OF LAW” NGO

VANADZOR OFFICE OF HELSINKI CIVIL ASSEMBLY

“GUARANTEE” CIVIL SOCIETY CENTER

"PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION NEEDS" NGO 

“AGAT” NGO