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ARMENIAN NEWSPAPER EDITORS URGE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO SUSPEND APPLICATION OF LIBEL LAW
epress.am
10.19.2011
Amendments to the RA Civil Code (Article 1087.1) which decriminalized
libel have become a tool that prevents freedom of speech and the
practical application of constitutional norms to seek, receive and
impart information, say editors of 8 Armenian newspapers in a statement
issued today.
"Lawsuits are launched with increasing frequency against print media,
their main purpose being to suspend newspapers' activities at the
cost of huge fines or to impose internal rules of censorship.
"We, the undersigned editors of newspapers published in Armenia,
consider the provisions of RA Civil Code Article 1087.1 and their
judicial application to be unconstitutional, their aim being to
deprive Armenian citizens of information print alternatives.
"Considering that the Human Rights Defender has appealed to the
Constitutional Court with the request to decide whether RA Civil Code
Article 1087.1 corresponds to RA Constitution Article 14, Article 27,
Section 1, 2 and 3, and Article 43, we urge the Constitutional Court
to implement measures to suspend the practical application of the
disputed article in the Civil Code prior to making a final decision.
"Let us also emphasize that we are prepared to present concrete
proposals to the proper bodies through authorized persons for
overcoming the current situation.
"At the same time we declare that irrespective of judicial and other
kinds of persecutions, we will remain committed to our professional
debt to providing information to readers and will continue to fight for
the protection of freedom of speech, as well as the the constitutional
right to seek, receive and impart information," reads the statement
signed by the following editors:
Aram Abrahamyan, Aravot Arman Babajanyan, Jamanak Anna V. Hakobyan,
Haykakan Jamanak Shogher Matevosyan, Chorrord Inqnishkhanutyun Armine
Ohanyan, Hraparak Satik Seyranyan, 168 Zham Taguhi Tovmasyan, Joghovurd
Bagrat Yesayan, Yerkir
epress.am
10.19.2011
Amendments to the RA Civil Code (Article 1087.1) which decriminalized
libel have become a tool that prevents freedom of speech and the
practical application of constitutional norms to seek, receive and
impart information, say editors of 8 Armenian newspapers in a statement
issued today.
"Lawsuits are launched with increasing frequency against print media,
their main purpose being to suspend newspapers' activities at the
cost of huge fines or to impose internal rules of censorship.
"We, the undersigned editors of newspapers published in Armenia,
consider the provisions of RA Civil Code Article 1087.1 and their
judicial application to be unconstitutional, their aim being to
deprive Armenian citizens of information print alternatives.
"Considering that the Human Rights Defender has appealed to the
Constitutional Court with the request to decide whether RA Civil Code
Article 1087.1 corresponds to RA Constitution Article 14, Article 27,
Section 1, 2 and 3, and Article 43, we urge the Constitutional Court
to implement measures to suspend the practical application of the
disputed article in the Civil Code prior to making a final decision.
"Let us also emphasize that we are prepared to present concrete
proposals to the proper bodies through authorized persons for
overcoming the current situation.
"At the same time we declare that irrespective of judicial and other
kinds of persecutions, we will remain committed to our professional
debt to providing information to readers and will continue to fight for
the protection of freedom of speech, as well as the the constitutional
right to seek, receive and impart information," reads the statement
signed by the following editors:
Aram Abrahamyan, Aravot Arman Babajanyan, Jamanak Anna V. Hakobyan,
Haykakan Jamanak Shogher Matevosyan, Chorrord Inqnishkhanutyun Armine
Ohanyan, Hraparak Satik Seyranyan, 168 Zham Taguhi Tovmasyan, Joghovurd
Bagrat Yesayan, Yerkir