Freedom of Information Center of Armenia.

STATEMENT

21 April, 2018

By reconfirming our assessment and demands mentioned in the April 19 Statement, we present below the cases of violence against the journalists and hindering their professional activities during April 20-22.

In the morning of April 21, in the 7th district of Nor Nork, Factor.TV’s camera was damaged as a result of a crush during the march of Nikol Pashinyan and his supporters.

Near Artashat, people wearing civilian clothing physically attacked Azatutyun Radio correspondent Arus Hakobyan, causing injuries. The police officers, who were on the scene then, did noting to prevent the violence.

On the same day, near Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan’s house in Avan district, CivilNet.am’s journalist Ani Grigoryan was attacked. A person wearing civilian clothing became discontent with the journalist’s question about the reason for gathering of people, who did not participate in the demonstrations. It is noteworthy that violence by people wearing civilian clothing against demonstrators and journalists becomes widespread. Apparently people gathered around the Mayor’s house represented a similar group.

On April 21 two more journalists of CivilNet.am collided with police officers. Tatul Hakobyan was forcefully hindered to shoot at the moment, when presumably an attempt was made to isolate and to bring to the police station Nikol Pashinyan, MP and leader of the “Take a Step, Reject Serzh” movement. Alina Sargsyan was heavily beaten on the back by an officer in “red cap”, when near Mashtots avenue-Amiryan street intersection the journalist shot bringing the demonstrators to the police station.

A day before, Tirayr Muradyan, a journalist of Sut.am, was brought to a police station from Yerevan-Abovyan highway. Notwithstanding his wearing a badge and confirming being a journalist, he was forcefully taken to a police car and was brought back to the same spot after a while.

In an intersection in Nor Nork, Lragir.am journalist Tehmine Yenokyan was beaten on her head by a person wearing civilian clothing and practicing violence against the demonstrators, when he saw the journalist shooting their actions. A woman, who was there at that moment, pulled the journalist’s hair and tore off her bag cord. As stated by Tehmine Yenokyan, the citizens confirmed that people practicing violence previously introduced themselves as municipality employees, and later closely communicated with the police officers.

Near Mashtots park, during the demonstrators’ march from Amiryan street to Mashtots avenue, the police officers attempted to bring to the police station News.am and Azatutyun Radio journalists, who were covering their actions. In the opinion of the journalists, in this and in previous cases they were probably confused with demonstrators.

Violence against journalists continued on April 22. At night, in the Garegin Nzhdeh square Azatutyun Radio’s Broadcast Producer Anatoli Yeghiazaryan was beaten by police officers. As stated by Azatutyun, the accident occurred, when Yeghiazaryan, who was coming back home from work, tried to film with his mobile phone about fifty officers who were forcibly dispersing protesters’ cars blocking a square. He was attacked by 6-7 policemen despite showing them his badge and repeatedly telling them he represented Azatutyun Radio.

Radiolur correspondent Liana Yeghiazaryan was injured when special means were applied during operations against the protesters in Artsakh-Erebuni intersection. As stated by Armradio.am, she managed to reach the building of Public Radio, where emergency employees gave first aid and advised to go to the hospital. In the same intersection Gala TV company cameramen Hambardzum Papoyan and Armen Petrosyan were injured, when police officers applied special means. Policemen also used violence against Petrosyan. Citizens gave first aid to the fainted cameraman, and the emergency vehicle took him to hospital.

Shantnews.am correspondent Artak Khulyan, who was covering the protests in Erebuni community, informed about being beaten with stones and later about electric shock.

On the Republic Square a police officer wearing a black balaclava threw away Azatutyun Radio journalist Naira Bulghadaryan’s camera hindering her steaming live video. Azatutyun TV’s live clearly featured the shots of police officers running and the camera appearing on the ground at that moment. Colonel Valeri Osipian, deputy chief of Yerevan’s police department, told the journalist that the police were carrying out a special operation and asked to stay at a section [of the square] where the cameras won’t be damaged.

Police officers also hindered Media.am journalist Gayane Asryan’s work. In the Erebuni-Artsakh intersection, during a clash between the protestors and police officers, she was beaten by an officer wearing a black balaclava. The journalist witnessed the police officers throwing light shells on the protesters, beating and pushing.

We continue following the events, recording the violation against the journalists and reconfirming our demand to stop violence and to punish those guilty.

COMMITTEE TO PROTECT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
YEREVAN PRESS CLUB
MEDIA INITIATIVES CENTER
“ASPAREZ” JOURNALISTS CLUB
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CENTER OF ARMENIA
MEDIA DIVERSITY INSTITUTE - ARMENIA
PUBLIC JOURNALISM CLUB
“JOURNALISTS FOR THE FUTURE” NGO
“JOURNALISTS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS” NGO
GORIS PRESS CLUB
ARMENIAN HELSINKI COMMITTEE
“RULE OF LAW” NGO
“HUMAN RIGHTS POWER” NGO