Ombudsman: Professional activities of journalists in Armenia must be  fully guaranteed

ArmInfo. The Human Rights Defender (HRD) of Armenia emphasizes that the unimpeded professional activities of journalists are exceptionally important for the proper  exercise of the right to information and freedom of expression.  Additionally, the unhindered work of journalists is valuable not only for protecting the rights of specific individuals, but also holds great public importance.  The media must have a favorable environment for carrying out their activities. In this regard, it is extremely important for state bodies and officials, as bearers of public authority, to take active measures to create such an environment. Moreover, officials should remember that journalists' questions can often be tough, but this is permissible as long as they do not violate the legal boundaries of freedom of speech. The Human Rights 

The Defender finds it alarming that officials often fail to consider the above-mentioned standards, which negatively impacts the favorable environment for journalists and hinders their unimpeded professional activities. As a broader issue in this area, the Defender also finds it concerning that, due to the lack of appropriate internal mechanisms, every incident between an official and a journalist leads to mutual accusations regarding compliance with ethical standards.  The Human Rights Defender emphasizes that it is the responsibility of  the state to develop and implement appropriate mechanisms for discussing issues related to the ethics of both officials and  journalists, which are either absent or not properly implemented in the Republic of Armenia.

The Defender once again emphasizes that proper communication between officials and journalists, as well as adherence to the principles of  (in terms of independence, journalistic ethics, accuracy of information provided, neutrality, accountability, and other relevant principles) are of paramount importance for citizens' freedom to receive information and express their opinions. There are many issues in this sector, and the competent entities must make serious efforts to overcome them.