THEY CONTINUE TO VIOLATE THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH

A1+

02:49 pm 17 March, 2006

“The fact which faces the “A1+” staff today comes to prove that in
Armenia they still continue to oppress the activity of free Mass
Media”, leader of the party “National Renaissance” Albert Bazeyan
said. The latter had come to the editorial office in protection of
“A1+”.

“The Government could carry out direct sale and give priority to the
company which has been carrying out all the responsibilities according
to the contract for the last 15 years”, the ex mayor of Yerevan said.

Albert Bazeyan noted that whatever happens to “A1+” today is
connected with all the previous cases of violation of human rights,
“Unfortunately we do not succeed in the protection of the rights
of the citizens, and the authorities continue the policy they have
adopted. As people say, “the appetite comes with eating”; we know
many cases when state property was sold to this or that official for
very little money”.

And today “A1+” is deprived of the area it has been occupying for
more than ten years.

“Today the authorities of any country want to have more power, and
the society of any country, of course if it exists, does not allow the
authorities to have more power. Unfortunately, our society allows the
authorities to do anything”, advocate Avetiq Ishkhanyan spoke about
the indifference of the society. “The society must be strong and
protect its rights. In Armenia they behave like they are sentenced
and their words have no value. That’s too bad”, Ishkhanyan says.

Asked the question who had to be next to “A1+” that is not, he
answered, “Any person who considers himself a citizen, learning about
this had be here today. This refers firstly to social-political bodies,
and of course to journalists”.

By the way, the majority of the supporters of “A1+” today were
journalists.
From: Baghdasarian