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REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDER SLAMS ARMENIA OVER MEDIA 'PERSECUTIONS'
Tert.am
02.05.11
Reporters Without Border media watchdog has slammed Armenia over the
lawsuits filed against media outlets, saying they pose a threat to
the newspapers' existence.
According to the RFE/RL the organization said in a statement
released on Sunday that it is concerned about the "disproportionate
compensations" claimed by plaintiffs under those court cases.
The compensations, the RWB said, put the existence of those media
outlets at risk and contribute to the development of an atmosphere
of self-censorship and therefore the practice of using legal actions
against newspapers should be stopped.
Further, the representatives of the organization mentioned that
though the criminal punishment for libel and insult was lifted in
April in 2010 in Armenia - something that was perceived as a step
towards democratization of the country - legal persecutions against
newspapers still continue.
The organization also said that in the first three months in 2011
alone 12 lawsuits were filed against media outlets and that their
overall target have been the independent ones.
It also said that three lawsuits were field against the Armenian daily
Zhamanak, one against the Haykakan Zhamanak and one against Hraparak.
"The plaintiff is the family of the former president Robert Kocharyan.
Kocharyan also turned to the court recently, accusing the Hraparak
daily of libel and insult. Though there may have been some grounds
to bring a legal action, the plaintiff's demand to put a hold on
the property and funds of the daily was completely groundless,"
read the statement.
"Though that decision was later reviewed, the actions by the former
president continue to pose a threat [to media] as it can be assumed
that the real goal of those lawsuits is to send the daily bankrupt,"
the statement added.
From: A. Papazian
Tert.am
02.05.11
Reporters Without Border media watchdog has slammed Armenia over the
lawsuits filed against media outlets, saying they pose a threat to
the newspapers' existence.
According to the RFE/RL the organization said in a statement
released on Sunday that it is concerned about the "disproportionate
compensations" claimed by plaintiffs under those court cases.
The compensations, the RWB said, put the existence of those media
outlets at risk and contribute to the development of an atmosphere
of self-censorship and therefore the practice of using legal actions
against newspapers should be stopped.
Further, the representatives of the organization mentioned that
though the criminal punishment for libel and insult was lifted in
April in 2010 in Armenia - something that was perceived as a step
towards democratization of the country - legal persecutions against
newspapers still continue.
The organization also said that in the first three months in 2011
alone 12 lawsuits were filed against media outlets and that their
overall target have been the independent ones.
It also said that three lawsuits were field against the Armenian daily
Zhamanak, one against the Haykakan Zhamanak and one against Hraparak.
"The plaintiff is the family of the former president Robert Kocharyan.
Kocharyan also turned to the court recently, accusing the Hraparak
daily of libel and insult. Though there may have been some grounds
to bring a legal action, the plaintiff's demand to put a hold on
the property and funds of the daily was completely groundless,"
read the statement.
"Though that decision was later reviewed, the actions by the former
president continue to pose a threat [to media] as it can be assumed
that the real goal of those lawsuits is to send the daily bankrupt,"
the statement added.
From: A. Papazian