ArmInfo. The Union of Journalists of Armenia informs with alarm about the increased pressure on journalists and the media in recent days, disrespectful treatment of them, insults, numerous cases of obstruction of the work of journalists and even threats to the life and health of journalists. This is stated in a statement by the Union.
Its authors note that basically all this is carried out by the authorities, pro-government circles - on social networks, public places, news sites. Thus, on May 13, during one of the actions of peaceful disobedience organized by the Tavush for the Motherland movement, the commander of the special forces battalion of the Yerevan city administration, Haykaz Jomardyan, his name became famous in the context of events in the Yerablur military pantheon, when violence was applied to the parents of the victims. "unprecedented brute force," said Hasmik Arakelyan, a journalist covering the action from the Antifake.am website: "You yourself are blasphemous, you understand, Hasmik Arakelyan, you are a scumbag." The reason for this behavior was the journalist's defense of the mother of a deceased serviceman. "In connection with the incident, we demand that the police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia evaluate their employees who disregard the rules of police conduct," the statement says.
In addition, on May 14, on Abovyan Street, a police car hit Nare Gevorgyan, a journalist for the MediaHub website. In the Kirants community of Tavush region, a member of the "Armenia" faction of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, former journalist Gegham Nazaryan, did not mince words, cursed, insulted and cursed the founder of the NewDay.am website, journalist Ani Gevorgyan, who has been covering the events taking place almost daily for almost 2 months in Tavush, demanded that the journalist stop broadcasting live, humiliated her honor and dignity, calling the journalist a provocateur and allowed himself other offensive expressions.
"We would like to remind you that journalist Ani Gevorgyan was invited by the residents of the Kirants community to cover the current situation. The Union of Journalists of Armenia strongly condemns the outrageous persecution of journalists that has become periodic. No one has the right to demand that a journalist stop broadcasting live in a public place during a public event. No one has the right interfere with the professional activities of a journalist, insult him, especially demonstrate behavior unbecoming a man and a deputy. We call on law enforcement agencies to take measures to fully and comprehensively investigate the case of obstruction of the professional activities of journalist Ani Gevorkyan by MP Gegham Nazaryan. At the same time, we call on our colleagues. do not succumb to provocations, show careful and restrained behavior, control your emotions and not violate the rules of journalistic ethics even in the most difficult and sensitive situations. We call on international journalistic and human rights structures and organizations to keep the spotlight on numerous cases of violence and disrespectful attitude towards journalists," emphasized in the statement of the SJA.