OSCE CONCERNED ABOUT VIOLENCE AGAINST MEDIA IN ARMENIA

Associated Press
Sept 12 2006

A leading European organization expressed concern about violence
against journalists and intimidation of the media in Armenia,
where the editor of an opposition newspaper was beaten last week by
unidentified assailants.

The Yerevan office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe said it is "deeply concerned over recent incidents of violence
and intimidation against local journalists which have obstructed their
professional duties and infringed upon the freedom of expression."

In a statement, the OSCE cited the Sept. 6 beating of Ovannes
Galadzhian, the editor of the newspaper Iravunk, who said he was
attacked by two men outside his home. The chairman of the paper’s
editorial board, Gaik Babukhanian, said he suspected the attack was
prompted by the paper’s criticism of the authorities.

He said the paper had also faced economic and other forms of pressure.

The OSCE statement also said that a freelance journalist, Gagik
Shamshian, was threatened and abused on July 12.

It called on Armenian law enforcement agencies to properly investigate
such cases and punish the perpetrators, as well as to "undertake
prompt measures to ensure the safety of media professionals in order
to promote freedom of expression in the country."

Critics say President Robert Kocharian has violently cracked down on
dissent in the former Soviet republic, allowed corruption to flourish
and done little to improve the lot of impoverished Armenia’s 3.3
million people.