YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
MARCH 27 – APRIL 2, 2009
HIGHLIGHTS:
YPC FINANCIAL REPORT ON
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: ELECTIONS OF YEREVAN COUNCIL OF ELDERLY AND MAYOR
HEARINGS OF GOHAR VEZIRIAN’S CASE, ACCUSED FOR DISRESPECT TO COURT, STARTED
COMMISSION ON EARLY RELEASE GIVES EXPLANATIONS
PRESS SECRETARY OF RA PARLIAMENT SPEAKER APPOINTED
CARTOONISTS VLADIMIR ABROYAN AND GEORGI YARALIAN NAMED HONORED ARTISTS
YPC FINANCIAL REPORT ON
According to the RA Law "On Public Organizations", the report on financial
activities of Yerevan Press Club for 2008 is placed on YPC website
in the "Mission" section.
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: ELECTIONS OF YEREVAN COUNCIL OF ELDERLY AND MAYOR
On March 28, 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 Chairwoman of
Association "For Sustainable Human Development" Karineh Danielian, political
observer of "Aravot" daily Anna Israelian, and politologist Ervand Bozoyan.
The discussion centered on the upcoming elections of the Yerevan Council of
Elderly and Mayor.
The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on Saturday,
April 4 at 17.40.
HEARINGS OF GOHAR VEZIRIAN’S CASE, ACCUSED FOR DISRESPECT TO COURT, STARTED
On March 31, court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash
communities of Yerevan started the hearings on the suit of Gohar Vezirian,
correspondent of "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun" newspaper, accused on Part 1 of
Article 343 of RA Criminal Code ("Disrespect to Court"). As it has been
reported, on August 6, 2008 during a session of the court of general
jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan Gohar
Vezirian was ousted from the courtroom upon the order of Judge Gagik
Avetisian. For over an hour and a half the journalist was held in the room,
intended for defendants, and then she was sent to the Kentron Police
Department. After staying at the Police for more than two hours, Gohar
Vezirian was released. The criminal proceedings were instituted in September
and the charge was brought against the "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun"
correspondent on December 24, 2008 (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, December
19-25, 2008).
At the court session of March 31 the defendant made an objection to the
public prosecutor, which was declined. Meanwhile, the court secured the
request of the defendant’s attorney by according him some time to prepare a
petition. The next session will be held on April 6.
It should be noted that on March 24 the same court of Kentron and
Nork-Marash communities started the examination of the case of free lance
journalist Gagik Shamshian, accused of the abovementioned crime (see YPC
Weekly Newsletter, March 20-26, 2009).
COMMISSION ON EARLY RELEASE GIVES EXPLANATIONS
On March 27 a statement of the Commission on Early Release was published. It
was on the rejected petition on the release on parole of Arman Babajanian,
Chief Editor of "Zhamanak" daily. As it has been reported, on March 20,
Arman Babajanian (sentenced to 3.5 years of imprisonment for document fraud
to avoid compulsory military service) was refused an early release for the
fourth time. On March 23, a number of media heads considered the refusal
unlawful, noting that, according to the vote results of the Commission
members, the petition was secured, but further "the minutes of the session
were changed" (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, March 20-26, 2009).
Rejecting all claims raised towards them, the Commission explained that on
the session of March 20, 18 from 74 petitions of the convicts on early
release were secured. The ones of the others, including Arman Babajanian’s,
were refused. At the same time, the Commission’s statement says, only two
members of the Commission voted for the early release of "Zhamanak" Chief
Editor, and five – against it. "The results of the vote were affirmed by the
signatures of the Commission members. Further changes in the minutes were
excluded, as all the Commission members’ signatures are needed for that",
the statement notes, in particular. The Commission on Early Release also
stressed that its decisions can be appealed to the court or to the
prosecutor’s office, in case of any doubt in their lawfulness.
PRESS SECRETARY OF RA PARLIAMENT SPEAKER APPOINTED
On April 1 Nairi Petrosian was appointed Press Secretary of the Chairman of
RA National Assembly. Earlier, Nairi Petrosian worked in the system of the
RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as at the OSCE Secretariat.
CARTOONISTS VLADIMIR ABROYAN AND GEORGI YARALIAN NAMED HONORED ARTISTS
On March 31, cartoonists Vladimir Abroyan and Georgi Yaralian were given the
rank of Honored Artist by the decree of RA President. Their works have been
published in the Armenian media for many years. The cartoonists were
conferred this title for important contribution to the world of satyr, as
well as due to the celebration of the Satyr and Humor Day on April 1.
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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
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