YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
APRIL 17-23, 2009
HIGHLIGHTS:
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: PUBLIC AND POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF ELECTIONS TO THE
YEREVAN COUNCIL OF ELDERLY
HEARINGS ON THE SUIT OF LEVON KHOCHARIAN VERSUS "HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK" DAILY
STARTED
GAGIK SHAMSHIAN SENTENCED TO A FINE FOR DISRESPECT TO COURT
"ARMENAKOB" TV COMPANY CHANGES OWNER AND NAME
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: PUBLIC AND POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF ELECTIONS TO THE
YEREVAN COUNCIL OF ELDERLY
Since April 18, the "Press Club" shows, aired on "Yerkir Media" TV company,
deal with the elections of Yerevan Council of Elderly on May 31, 2009. The
programs participants will be the representatives of six parties and one
party bloc who have submitted their lists to the RA Central Electoral
Commission for running in the elections. The "Press Club" cycle is produced
under Yerevan Press Club project, supported by the Open Society Institute.
On April 18, the guests of the program host, YPC President Boris Navasardian
were representatives of six parties: Arman Vardanian ("Prosperous Armenia"),
Tigran Karapetian (the first in the electoral list of the Popular Party),
Yenok Azarian (Republican Party of Armenia), Artsvik Minasian (the first in
the list of ARF "Dashnaktsutiun"), Movses Shakhverdian (the first in the
list of Labor Socialist Party of Armenia) and Grigor Vahanian ("Orinats
Yerkir"). Only the representative of the party bloc "Armenian National
Congress" did not take part in the show. The discussion centered on the
public and political significance of the elections of Yerevan Council of
Elderly.
The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on Saturday,
April 25 at 17.25.
HEARINGS ON THE SUIT OF LEVON KHOCHARIAN VERSUS "HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK" DAILY
STARTED
On April 23, court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash
communities of Yerevan started the hearings on the suit of Levon Khocharian,
younger son of RA Second President Robert Khocharian, against "Haykakan
Zhamanak" daily. It is on the protection of honor, dignity and business
reputation of the plaintiff. The reason of the lawsuit was the editorial
"The adventures of Robert’s Son in Dubai", published in "Haykakan Zhamanak"
on February 6, 2009. The piece informed about Levon Khocharian’s detention
by police of Dubai, UAE, in the end of 2008. The plaintiff demands to oblige
the daily to publish a refutation and to compensate for moral losses in the
amount of 16 million and 120 thousand AMD (about $ 43.500).
On April 23, court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash
communities of Yerevan started the hearings on the suit of Levon Khocharian,
younger son of RA Second President Robert Khocharian, against "Haykakan
Zhamanak" daily. It is on the protection of honor and dignity of the
plaintiff. The reason of the lawsuit was the editorial "The adventures of
Robert’s Son in Dubai", published in "Haykakan Zhamanak" on February 6,
2009. The piece informed about Levon Khocharian’s detention by police of
Dubai, UAE, in the end of 2008. The plaintiff demands to oblige the daily to
publish a refutation and to compensate for moral losses in the amount of 16
million and 120 thousand AMD (about $ 43.500).
At the session of April 23 the judge noted that "Haykakan Zhamanak" daily
cannot appear as defendant of the present case, as it is not a legal entity.
The plaintiff submitted a petition to change the defendant, which was
secured. Thus, the founder of "Haykakan Zhamanak", "Dareskizb" LLC, was
declared defendant.
The next court session is appointed on May 12.
GAGIK SHAMSHIAN SENTENCED TO A FINE FOR DISRESPECT TO COURT
On April 17, court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash
communities of Yerevan released a verdict on the case of free-lance
journalist Gagik Shamshian, accused on Part 3 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 in December 2008. The hearings on the case started on March 24,
2009 (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, March 20-26, 2009).
The court returned Gagik Shamshian guilty and imposed a fine in the amount
of 350,000 AMD (about $ 950). As Gagik Shamshian informed YPC, he intends to
appeal the verdict with the upper court jurisdiction.
"ARMENAKOB" TV COMPANY CHANGES OWNER AND NAME
>From April 25, "ARMENAKOB" TV starts to broadcast with a new name – ATV. The
owner of the TV company has changed, too: it is "A-TV" LLC. The General
Director of ATV is Vahe Ghazarian. Earlier, he worked at "Epikentron"
newscast of "Kentron" TV channel.
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Press Club is required.
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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
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Yerevan Press Club
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0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
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