12:00, 9 May 2009

Police of Armenia: violence against journalists is one of major problems

Colonel Ovanes Tamanyan, Chief of the Criminal Search Department of the Police of the Republic of Armenia, has assured journalists that facts of violence against their colleagues are in the focus of attention of law enforcers. According to his story, this issue is one of the police's priorities.

"We'll do the utmost to fight against this vicious phenomenon. I hope that in the final end we'll stop the violence against journalists," said Mr Tamanyan and noted that attacks on journalists become more frequent mainly before elections.

The chief of the criminal search has reported investigation department has informed that after 1992 in Armenia there were 17 attacks on journalists. Of them, only two cases were opened. The investigation of the remaining 15 cases is still on.

At night on May 7, an attack was made on Nver Mnatsakyan, a journalist of the "Shant" TV Company. And on April 30, Argishti Kiviryan, coordinator of the Internet edition "Armenia Today", was violently beaten in the doorway of his house.

Author: Lylyt Ovanisyan

Source: CK correspondent