Acts of violence against journalists in Armenia remain unpunished, rights defenders assert

As stated by participants of a press conference in Yerevan, this year was rather strained for the press and journalists; and the number of incidents of physical pressure on journalists or obstruction to obtaining information practically did not go down.

During the first nine months of the current year only, seven incidents involving physical violence against journalists and 37 cases of threats and pressure were registered, said Ashot Melikyan, the chairman of the Committee for the Protection of Freedom of Speech.

"The decrease of the count of threats and incidents of pressure in comparison with previous years is due to the fact that in 2014 there were no parliamentary or presidential elections," he explained.

According to his story, almost all the incidents involving journalists featured agents of power structures; however, law enforcement bodies are trying to hush up the cases and defend the esprit de corps.

In particular, Melikyan cited the example of the journalist of the newspaper "Fourth Power" Ani Gevorkyan (in media her name is also given as Ani Gevorgyan), who was not allowed this February by a policeman to video an oppositional protest action. A police officer slapped her face and ordered to take away her mobile phone.

The Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression demanded from the prosecutor's office to investigate this incident, Melikyan has reminded. A criminal case was opened, but no one was punished.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.