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AUTHORITIES-APPOINTED JUDGES AS SOVIET-TIME CENSORSHIP - ARMENIAN OPPOSITION REP
TERT.AM
14:51 ~U 05.02.13
With respect to the latest developments surrounding the Zhoghovurd
(People) daily, freedom of speech in Armenia and suits against mass
media, sociologist Aharon Adibekyan, as well as Gurgen Yeghizaryan,
a member of the opposition bloc Armenian National Congress (ANC),
and Sona Grigoryan, a reporter for the Zhoghovurd daily, shared their
opinions with journalists on Tuesday.
Experience shows that the strong and rich always won when the judicial
system dealt with an opposition or independent media outlet. "The
authorities-appointed judge is playing the role of censorship of the
Soviet times," Mr Yeghiazaryan said.
One million people are hungry in Armenia, and they are leaving
the country not only because they are hungry, but also because of
injustice, he added.
On January 24, the Zhoghovurd daily received a court verdict returned
by Judge Ruben Apinyan. The verdict attached the newspaper's AMD 3m
worth property. Thus the court upheld a claim lodged by Mr Khachik
Khachatryan, the owner of the Yerevan Poultry Factory OJSC.
A protest was held in Yerevan in defense of the Zhoghovurd daily.
Sociologist Aharon Adibekyan believes that such actions should be
supported by a number of journalists' organizations and unanimity.
"Mr Khachatryan is unaware of the problems he is going to face. I do
not think the European Court will defend him," Mr Adibekyan said. He
pointed out the absence of public control over Armenia's judicial
system.
Ms Grigoryan noted that Mr Khachatryan demands AMD 3m compensation
from the newspaper for reporting that they sell eggs with expired
keeping time.
"He claims he is going to use the three million for charity," she
said. Ms Grigoryan is sure that Mr Khachatryan is not acting by
himself. His close friends include Mikael Minasyan, son-in-law of
Armenia's incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan, and other people.
TERT.AM
14:51 ~U 05.02.13
With respect to the latest developments surrounding the Zhoghovurd
(People) daily, freedom of speech in Armenia and suits against mass
media, sociologist Aharon Adibekyan, as well as Gurgen Yeghizaryan,
a member of the opposition bloc Armenian National Congress (ANC),
and Sona Grigoryan, a reporter for the Zhoghovurd daily, shared their
opinions with journalists on Tuesday.
Experience shows that the strong and rich always won when the judicial
system dealt with an opposition or independent media outlet. "The
authorities-appointed judge is playing the role of censorship of the
Soviet times," Mr Yeghiazaryan said.
One million people are hungry in Armenia, and they are leaving
the country not only because they are hungry, but also because of
injustice, he added.
On January 24, the Zhoghovurd daily received a court verdict returned
by Judge Ruben Apinyan. The verdict attached the newspaper's AMD 3m
worth property. Thus the court upheld a claim lodged by Mr Khachik
Khachatryan, the owner of the Yerevan Poultry Factory OJSC.
A protest was held in Yerevan in defense of the Zhoghovurd daily.
Sociologist Aharon Adibekyan believes that such actions should be
supported by a number of journalists' organizations and unanimity.
"Mr Khachatryan is unaware of the problems he is going to face. I do
not think the European Court will defend him," Mr Adibekyan said. He
pointed out the absence of public control over Armenia's judicial
system.
Ms Grigoryan noted that Mr Khachatryan demands AMD 3m compensation
from the newspaper for reporting that they sell eggs with expired
keeping time.
"He claims he is going to use the three million for charity," she
said. Ms Grigoryan is sure that Mr Khachatryan is not acting by
himself. His close friends include Mikael Minasyan, son-in-law of
Armenia's incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan, and other people.