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MUNICIPAL VOTE: ATTACKS AGAINST OPPOSITION ACTIVIST, JOURNALIST DISTURB MOSTLY CALM ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN YEREVAN
POLITICS | 25.04.13 | 15:19
By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The generally peaceful campaign ahead of the May 5 municipal elections
in Yerevan has been overshadowed by the recent cases of violence
against one of oppositional online media reporters and an Armenian
National Congress activist.
On Tuesday, April 23, during a campaign meeting of the incumbent
mayor, representatives of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia Taron
Margaryan, ilur.am reporter Hakob Karapetyan was assaulted when he
tried to video record, before Margaryan would arrive, how balloons were
being taken out of a Yerevan city public minibus. A group of young
people approached Karapetyan and demanded that he stop recording,
and when he refused the person in charge of the organization of the
meeting reportedly bullied him and delivered several blows. The person
was later identified as a Republican, Yerevan city council member
and now candidate Ashot Papayan, better known by his nickname of
Turbo. The video camera was taken away from the reporter and returned
after all the files had been deleted. The reporter claims there were
police officers nearby, but they did not interfere.
Margaryan's headquarters have provided no comment on the incident, and
the police have stated that the circumstances are being investigated.
Republican Party lawmaker Margarit Yesayan, a former reporter, has
condemned the violence.
"Nobody has the right to hinder a reporter in his professional duties.
I hope the incident will be investigated and solved, and that the
wrongdoer will be justly punished regardless of who he is and which
political force he is affiliated with," she stated.
The Ombudsman's office has also strictly condemned the actions of
people who resorted to violence against the reporter and stated its
intention to follow the case to "give an adequate assessment to this
incident and its legal consequences by means and timeframe provided
for by the law".
A day before the assault against the reporter, on April 22, Alexander
Hakhverdyan, an opposition Armenian National Congress activist,
was beaten up and suffered a concussion as he was canvassing in a
Yerevan suburb. A group of young people approached the ANC activists
campaigning for their party in the Ajapnyan community and told them
they had no right to campaign in their district. ANC members claim
the young people identified themselves as Republicans.
It is noteworthy that in its comments regarding the incident the RPA
did not deny that the alleged assault had been carried out by its
members. The headquarters only said it "condemns any kind of violence
and urges all the political forces to continue to run their campaigns
in a civilized manner".
http://www.armenianow.com/news/politics/45605/yerevan_election_taron_margaryan_campaign_journali st_attacks
POLITICS | 25.04.13 | 15:19
By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The generally peaceful campaign ahead of the May 5 municipal elections
in Yerevan has been overshadowed by the recent cases of violence
against one of oppositional online media reporters and an Armenian
National Congress activist.
On Tuesday, April 23, during a campaign meeting of the incumbent
mayor, representatives of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia Taron
Margaryan, ilur.am reporter Hakob Karapetyan was assaulted when he
tried to video record, before Margaryan would arrive, how balloons were
being taken out of a Yerevan city public minibus. A group of young
people approached Karapetyan and demanded that he stop recording,
and when he refused the person in charge of the organization of the
meeting reportedly bullied him and delivered several blows. The person
was later identified as a Republican, Yerevan city council member
and now candidate Ashot Papayan, better known by his nickname of
Turbo. The video camera was taken away from the reporter and returned
after all the files had been deleted. The reporter claims there were
police officers nearby, but they did not interfere.
Margaryan's headquarters have provided no comment on the incident, and
the police have stated that the circumstances are being investigated.
Republican Party lawmaker Margarit Yesayan, a former reporter, has
condemned the violence.
"Nobody has the right to hinder a reporter in his professional duties.
I hope the incident will be investigated and solved, and that the
wrongdoer will be justly punished regardless of who he is and which
political force he is affiliated with," she stated.
The Ombudsman's office has also strictly condemned the actions of
people who resorted to violence against the reporter and stated its
intention to follow the case to "give an adequate assessment to this
incident and its legal consequences by means and timeframe provided
for by the law".
A day before the assault against the reporter, on April 22, Alexander
Hakhverdyan, an opposition Armenian National Congress activist,
was beaten up and suffered a concussion as he was canvassing in a
Yerevan suburb. A group of young people approached the ANC activists
campaigning for their party in the Ajapnyan community and told them
they had no right to campaign in their district. ANC members claim
the young people identified themselves as Republicans.
It is noteworthy that in its comments regarding the incident the RPA
did not deny that the alleged assault had been carried out by its
members. The headquarters only said it "condemns any kind of violence
and urges all the political forces to continue to run their campaigns
in a civilized manner".
http://www.armenianow.com/news/politics/45605/yerevan_election_taron_margaryan_campaign_journali st_attacks