YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
MARCH 20-26, 2009
HIGHLIGHTS:
WELL-KNOWN ARMENIAN PHOTOJOURNALIST PASSED AWAY
YPC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2008
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: THE GOALS AND THE PERSPECTIVES OF THE PUBLIC COUNCIL
ISSUE-BASED REPORTING BY THE ARMENIAN MEDIA DURING THE ELECTIONS OF LOCAL
SELF-GOVERNMENT
"MEDIA SELF-REGULATION" BROCHURE ISSUED
FREEDOM OF SPEECH DAY CELEBRATED IN GYUMRI
HEARINGS OF GAGIK SHAMSHIAN’S CASE, ACCUSED FOR DISRESPECT TO COURT, STARTED
THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CENTER SUIT VERSUS NOR-NORK COMMUNITY PARTIALLY
SECURED
"ZHAMANAK" CHIEF EDITOR REFUSED EARLY RELEASE AGAIN
FAST RESPONSE GROUP FORMED
WELL-KNOWN ARMENIAN PHOTOJOURNALIST PASSED AWAY
On March 21 at the age of 49, Ruben Mangasarian unexpectedly passed away. He
was not only one of the best photojournalists, he was also in great demand.
Prominent world print media and news agencies, with whom Ruben cooperated,
are numerous. Endless travels across the post-Soviet area and exclusive
photo-reports from hot spots. Prestigious awards and personal exhibitions in
not less prestigious galleries. One would think that’s all a real
professional needs. However, Ruben never gave up the idea that the approach
to photojournalism in his own country has to be changed: "The photo is not
just a simple blotch to fill up newspaper pages. The best Armenian
photojournalists should not prefer working for the foreign market." In 1995
Ruben Mangasarian became one of the founders of Yerevan Press Club, the
first professional journalistic association of post-communist Armenia. In
1996 he established the first independent photo agency, "Patker". Then it
went on like a snow-ball: many projects, including regional ones, education
of the new generation of journalists. His last brainchild was the Armenian
version of "National Geographic Traveler" magazine and "National Geographic
Traveler-Armenia" Club. No time was left for hobbies: fishing and camping
across Armenia. A person who had endless energy and was chronically tired.
The heart couldn’t bear it all…
Yerevan Press Club expresses sincere condolences to the relatives, friends,
associates, and to the whole journalistic community with the untimely death
of Ruben Mangasarian.
YPC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2008
In compliance with Article 12 "Transparency of financial sources" of the RA
Law "On Mass Communication", we present the 2008 financial report of Yerevan
Press Club Weekly Newsletter and the website
In 2008, a total of 5,232,600 AMD was spent for the publication of YPC
Weekly Newsletter and the support of the website in the
English and Russian languages.
The whole sum was covered by a grant provided by Open Society Institute.
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: THE GOALS AND THE PERSPECTIVES OF THE PUBLIC COUNCIL
On March 21, another "Press Club" show went on the air of "Yerkir Media" TV
company. The cycle is produced under Yerevan Press Club project, supported
by the Open Society Institute Human Rights and Governance Grants Program.
The guests of the host, YPC President Boris Navasardian were Jemma
Hasratian, President of "Women with University Education" NGO, Khosrov
Harutiunian, Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union, and Artur Papian,
Director of the Media Diversity Institute-Armenia. The discussion centered
on the goals and the perspectives of the Public Council being formed by the
RA President decree.
The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on Saturday,
March 28 at 17.40.
ISSUE-BASED REPORTING BY THE ARMENIAN MEDIA DURING THE ELECTIONS OF LOCAL
SELF-GOVERNMENT
On March 21-22 a seminar on "Issue-based Reporting by the Armenian Media
during the Elections of Local Self-Government" was held in Aghveran. The
event was organized by Yerevan Press Club under the project on "Improving
the Media Coverage of Local Self-Government Elections in Armenia" supported
by the British Embassy Yerevan. The seminar was opened by British Embassy
Communication Manager Maria Sadoyan and YPC President Boris Navasardian.
Vice-Chairman of "Democracy" NGO Hrair Tovmasian introduced to the seminar
participants the legislation on the elections of local self-government in
the framework of the amended status of Yerevan city and the upcoming
elections of the Yerevan Council of Elderly on May 31.
The Editor of YPC Weekly Newsletter Elina Poghosbekian presented the results
of the monitoring the issue-based reporting by 11 Armenian TV channels
during the elections of self-government in the context of studying the
information demand by the audience. Soon, this research (in Armenian,
English and Russian) will be placed on YPC web site in the
"Studies" section. It will also be published as a brochure.
The report of YPC President Boris Navasardian was dealing with the trends of
the media coverage of the local elections. The Expert of the Committee to
Protect Freedom of Expression Mesrop Harutiunian centered on the role of the
media self-regulation during the local election campaigns.
Aram Abrahamian, Chief Editor of "Aravot" daily, and Gegham Manoukian,
Director of News and Current Affairs Programs of "Yerkir Media" TV company,
reflected on particularities of media coverage of the local elections
drawing from the experience of the media which they head.
"The Issue-Based Reporting during Presidential and Local Self-Government
Elections in Armenia in 2008" brochure was presented at the seminar. The
book was published by YPC under a project, supported by Friedrich Ebert
Foundation. The edition tells about the monitoring results of seven Armenian
print media, administered by YPC in the period of presidential and local
self-government elections (respectively, on January-February and September,
2008). The research (in Armenian, English and Russian) can be found on YPC
web site in the "Studies" section.
"MEDIA SELF-REGULATION" BROCHURE ISSUED
"Media Self-Regulation" brochure was published by Yerevan Press Club with
the support of Open Society Institute. The book presents the activities of
the Media Ethics Observatory for 2008, including the considered complaints
and judgments made by MEO. It also introduces the similar self-regulation
institutions of 21 European countries.
Media Ethics Observatory was established on March 10, 2007 by the heads of
Armenian media who supported the self-regulation initiative of Yerevan Press
Club (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, March 9-15, 2007). The mission of the MEO
is to consider the complaints about violations of the Code of Conduct of
Media Representatives and make judgments on them. As of today, the Code of
Conduct and the supplement to it, the Declaration of Election and Referenda
Coverage Principles, have been signed by 35 media. The initiative is
supported also by 8 journalistic associations.
"Media Self-Regulation" brochure (in Armenian) is presented on YPC web site
in "Publications" section.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH DAY CELEBRATED IN GYUMRI
On March 25, the Day of Freedom of Speech was celebrated in "Asparez"
Journalists’ Club of Gyumri. A year ago, on March 25, the founder of "GALA"
TV Company, "CHAP" LLC, recovered the tax liability, which almost put the TV
company on the edge of closing down. The funds for paying off the debt were
donated by individuals and organizations, both Armenian and international.
The tax inspections at "CHAP" LLC (and the following lawsuits) started, as
soon as, on October 22, 2007, the "CHAP" owner Vahan Khachatrian issued a
statement regarding the attempts of various power agencies to exert pressure
on the TV channel.
The event’s initiator, "Asparez" Journalists’ Club, noted that on March 25
"we honor everyone who supported the protection of "GALA" TV company and the
Freedom of Speech".
HEARINGS OF GAGIK SHAMSHIAN’S CASE, ACCUSED FOR DISRESPECT TO COURT, STARTED
On March 24, court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash
communities of Yerevan started the hearings on the suit of free-lance
journalist Gagik Shamshian, accused on part 1 of Article 343 of RA Criminal
Code ("Disrespect to Court"). As it has been reported, on August 5, 2008
during a session of the court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and
Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan Gagik Shamshian was dismissed from the
courtroom upon the order of Judge Gagik Avetisian. At first the journalist
was locked in the basement of the court and was later taken to the Kentron
Police Department, where he stayed for over two hours. The criminal
proceedings were instituted in September, and the charge was brought against
journalist on December 24, 2008 (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, December 19-25,
2008).
On the court session of March 24, the defendant objections presented to the
judge and the public prosecutor were declined. The next session will be
called on March 30.
THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CENTER SUIT VERSUS NOR-NORK COMMUNITY PARTIALLY
SECURED
On March 23, the RA Administrative Court released its ruling on the suit of
Freedom of Information Center versus the administration of Nor-Nork
community of Yerevan. The NGO suit demanded to recognize the actions of the
community administration in answering to the inquiry unlawful, to commit it
to providing with necessary information, to impose a fine on the Nor-Nork
community Head David Petrosian in the amount of 50,000 AMD (around $ 130),
as well as to compensate the amount of 4,000 AMD, paid by the NGO as a state
duty for addressing the court.
On August 1, 2008 Freedom of Information Center made an inquiry to the
administration of Nor-Nork community, asking for the number and the
addresses of apartments, owned by the community, as well as for the court
statistics regarding the eviction of residents from unprivatized apartments.
The community did not answer to the inquiry and the NGO claimed the court.
The hearings on the case started on January 26, 2009. In February the
community of Nor-Nork provided with the requested information, and FOI
Center recalled its demand to recognize the community actions in answering
to the inquiry unlawful. On the session of March 6, the court considered the
other two demands – on fine imposing on Nor-Nork Head and on expense
compensation.
On March 23, the court secured the suit partially, committing the Nor-Nork
community of Yerevan to compensating 4,000 AMD paid by FOI Center as a state
duty for addressing the court.
As the plaintiff lawyer, Karen Mejlumian, says, in the end of July and in
the beginning of August, 2008 similar inquiries were made to the 12
communities of Yerevan by the Freedom of Information Center. The three of
the communities – Arabkir, Davitashen and Nor-Nork either provided
incomplete information, or did not answer to it. And Freedom of Information
Center brought an action against them. On December 30, 2008 the
Administrative Court secured all the demands of the NGO suit versus Arabkir
community (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, January 8-15, 2009). As for the action
against Davitashen community, it was withdrawn, because the requested
information was provided before the court hearings.
"ZHAMANAK" CHIEF EDITOR REFUSED EARLY RELEASE AGAIN
On March 20 the Commission on Early Release refused the petition of
"Erebuni" criminal executive institution on the early release of "Zhamanak"
daily Chief Editor, Arman Babajanian, sentenced to 3.5 years of imprisonment
for document fraud to avoid compulsory military service.
On March 23 the heads of "Aravot", "Hayk’, "Hraparak’, "Taregir", "Chorrord
Ishkhanutiun", "168 Zham", " Haykakan Zhamanak", "Zhamanak" newspapers,
"A1+" TV company, "Lragir.am" online publication released a statement, which
questions the lawfulness of the decision of the Commission on Early Release.
"According to some of the members of the Commission, who were present at the
session", the statement notes, following the ballot results the petition was
secured, and, subsequently, Arman Babajanian had to be released.
"Nevertheless, after the end of the session, for some unknown reasons, the
minutes of the session were forged and changed, as a result, Arman
Babajanian’s name did not appear in the list of the early released", the
statement stresses. Defining the incident as "manifestation of lawlessness"
and "political order, made from a single center", the heads of 10 media
called "the competent bodies to eliminate the violation of law without delay
and bring the offenders to account".
Regarding the refuse of Arman Babajanian’s release on parole, on March 25
the heads of five human rights organizations made a statement in which they
criticized the activities of the Commission on Early Release. In particular,
the human rights defenders are concerned that "exact standards are not
defined in the legislation regulating the decision making process of the
commission", "the decisions of the commissions cannot be appealed" and "most
of the commission members, including all the commission chairmen represent
security structures".
In fact, the petition on Arman Babajanian’s early release is turned down
for the fourth time (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, July 11-18, 2008).
FAST RESPONSE GROUP FORMED
The Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression formed a fast response group
in Yerevan. There is a hotline (tel.: +374 93 10 70 85; E-mail:
[email protected]), on which you can inform about the cases of exerting
pressure on media and journalists, as well as impeding of their professional
activities. The fast response group has also representatives in the regions
of Armenia.
When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.
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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
_____________________________________ _______
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
