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"LAW-ENFORCING BODIES ARE NOT ABLE TO SECURE JOURNALISTS' SAFETY,"
REPRESENTATIVES OF MASS MEDIA AND NGO DECLARE
YEREVAN, JULY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. "Journalists are deeply concerned
that parallel with the approaching of the parliamentary elections in
Armenia the pressure towards representatives of mass media strenghtens
and the threats to their address become frequent. These are done by
those people and forces who have bases to be concerned of criticism
and of disclosings of some sides of their activity." This is said in
a joint statement made by the heads of mass media and journalist and
other NGO's of Armenia.
According to the statement, two strange incidents happened during
the last week only: Edik Baghdasarian, Head of the Investigating
Journalists NGO received requital warnings towards himself, and Gagik
Shamshian, photo-journalist of the Chorrord Ishkhanutiun newspaper
was attacked for doing his professional
responsibilities.
The authors of the statement are convinced that "the law-enforcing
bodies are not able to secure safety of the journalists and to arrest
the criminals".
They call to discuss the issue of changing the precautionary
measures towards Arman Babajanian, to effectively investigate and
punish those who attacked Gagik Shashian, to investigate thoroughly
the circumstances connected with the anonymous threats towards Edik
Baghdasarian. "The atmosphere, in which the parliamentary elections
will be held in several months, is totally conditioned with the
readiness of the state to defend its citizens from the hooligans who
try to take posts at any price and to have respect for the democratic
institutes, in particular for the press," the statement reads.
Habok Avetikian, editor-in-chief of the Azg daily, Aram Abrahamian,
editor-in-chief of the Aravot daily, Nikol Pashinian, editor-in-chief
of the Haykakan Zhamanak daily, Vardan Haroutiunian, President of
the Right and Freedom center and Avetik Ishkhanian, President of the
Helsinki Committee of Armenia signed the statement.
REPRESENTATIVES OF MASS MEDIA AND NGO DECLARE
YEREVAN, JULY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. "Journalists are deeply concerned
that parallel with the approaching of the parliamentary elections in
Armenia the pressure towards representatives of mass media strenghtens
and the threats to their address become frequent. These are done by
those people and forces who have bases to be concerned of criticism
and of disclosings of some sides of their activity." This is said in
a joint statement made by the heads of mass media and journalist and
other NGO's of Armenia.
According to the statement, two strange incidents happened during
the last week only: Edik Baghdasarian, Head of the Investigating
Journalists NGO received requital warnings towards himself, and Gagik
Shamshian, photo-journalist of the Chorrord Ishkhanutiun newspaper
was attacked for doing his professional
responsibilities.
The authors of the statement are convinced that "the law-enforcing
bodies are not able to secure safety of the journalists and to arrest
the criminals".
They call to discuss the issue of changing the precautionary
measures towards Arman Babajanian, to effectively investigate and
punish those who attacked Gagik Shashian, to investigate thoroughly
the circumstances connected with the anonymous threats towards Edik
Baghdasarian. "The atmosphere, in which the parliamentary elections
will be held in several months, is totally conditioned with the
readiness of the state to defend its citizens from the hooligans who
try to take posts at any price and to have respect for the democratic
institutes, in particular for the press," the statement reads.
Habok Avetikian, editor-in-chief of the Azg daily, Aram Abrahamian,
editor-in-chief of the Aravot daily, Nikol Pashinian, editor-in-chief
of the Haykakan Zhamanak daily, Vardan Haroutiunian, President of
the Right and Freedom center and Avetik Ishkhanian, President of the
Helsinki Committee of Armenia signed the statement.