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DO NOT IMPEDE JOURNALISTS!
[03:36 pm] 19 October, 2007
We, the public organizations, express our concern
over the negative and unacceptable developments that
have been recently observed with regard to freedom of
expression. The print media have been reporting that
for several days already correspondents of broadcast
media do not come to press conferences, organized at
various press clubs. A supposition was made that this
attitude is imposed by various power agencies. We
realize that media do not have to cover all press
conferences; however, the simultaneous and unanimous
display of indifference to events of public importance
only comes to confirm the version of intervention by
`invisible hand’.
We receive alarming information that over the past
week heads of private TV companies were invited to
various agencies, where they were `persuaded’ to
ignore the public events, appearances of certain
opposition figures, not to invite them to studios, not
to interview them and not to show them on air. In
particular, the TV companies have received a
`recommendation’ not to cover (either positively or
negatively) the rally of a number of political forces,
scheduled for October 26.
We remind that impeding the legitimate professional
activities of journalists is a criminal offence.
Moreover, Clause 2 of Article 164 of the RA Criminal
Code refers to the commitment of the same offence by
an official, using his/her position.
Having no common political preferences or dislikes,
all of us think it to be an urgent necessity that
information and opinions be disseminated freely, in
particular, ahead of presidential elections, and we
call on authorities to abstain from interfering with
the editorial policy of media, primarily the
broadcasters, since it irreparably damages the freedom
of expression and pluralism as cornerstone principles
of democracy.
Yerevan Press Club
Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression
`Asparez’ Journalist’s Club
Vanadzor Press Club
Helsinki Committee of Armenia
Vanadzor Office of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly