Armenian journalists accuse AIISA of discrimination

The Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs (AIISA) has closed an event dedicated to the anniversary of the terror act in parliament for a number of media outlets. Rights defenders and journalists have condemned the ban, treating it as a restriction imposed on the freedom of speech.

The press conference of the AIISA on "October 27 20 years later: a look into the past: lessons and thoughts" was held on September 29.

"The entrance for the 'News.am', 'Hayeli.am', '168.am', 'Yerevan today', '7оr.am', 'Live news.am', Channel 5, 'Yerkir Media' and other propaganda media is closed; journalists of these propaganda media will be removed from the hall," said the announcement of the event posted on the Facebook.

Nevertheless, journalists of the "Live news.am" and Channel 5 tried to get to the press conference, but they were stopped at the entrance to the hall.

The Committee for the Protection of Freedom of Speech has stated that ten media perceive this measure as discrimination, the "News-Armenia" has reported.

The independent trade union of journalists has treated the ban for journalists as a call for intolerance of the dissent, the "Panorama.am" reports.

Levon Sardaryan, a member of the trade union, wrote on the Facebook that "the obstruction of a journalist's professional activity is a criminal offense."

Koryun Simonyan, another Facebook user, has noted that the ban imposed by the AIISA is "a flagrant violation of the freedom of speech and blatant manifestation of discrimination."