YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
MAY 15-21, 2009
HIGHLIGHTS:
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: SOCIAL, HEALTH CARE AND CULTURE ISSUES OF YEREVAN
ARREST PUT ON PROPERTY OF "HRAPARAK" FOUNDER
ISSUE OF "PAKAGITS" DAILY SUSPENDED
CORRESPONDENT OF "CHORRORD ISHKHANUTIUN" SENTENCED TO A FINE FOR DISRESPECT
TO COURT
CASE ON ASSAULT OF ARMENIA TODAY COORDINATOR REQUALIFIED
AYDIN MORIKIAN PASSED AWAY
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: SOCIAL, HEALTH CARE AND CULTURE ISSUES OF YEREVAN
On May 16 another "Press Club" show, dealing with the elections of Yerevan
Council of Elderly on May 31, 2009, went on the air of "Yerkir Media" TV
company. The "Press Club" cycle is produced under Yerevan Press Club
project, supported by the Open Society Institute. The guests of the program
were representatives of five parties and one party bloc which were
registered at the RA Central Electoral Commission for running in the
elections: Vardan Bostanjian ("Prosperous Armenia"), Sergey Gasparian
(Popular Party), Bagrat Asatrian (Armenian National Congress), Astghik
Drmoyan (Labor Socialist Party of Armenia), Derenik Dumanian (Republican
Party of Armenia), Henry Bakunts ("Orinats Yerkir"). Only the representative
of "Dashnaktsutiun" party did not participate in the program. Karineh
Danielian, Chairwoman of the Association "For Sustainable Human
Development", and architect Gagik Sukhudian took part in the show as
experts. The discussion centered on social, health care and culture issues
of Yerevan.
The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on Saturday, May
23 at 17.25.
ARREST PUT ON PROPERTY OF "HRAPARAK" FOUNDER
On May 19 the representatives of the RA Service of Compulsory Execution of
Court Acts put an arrest on the property of "Hraparak" daily founder,
"Hraparak Oratert" LLC. The penalty was applied as a pre-award relief to
secure a suit. The suit was filed on April 2009 by "Gind" printing house to
the court of general jurisdiction of Arabkir and Nor Nork communities of
Yerevan. The plaintiff demands "Hraparak Oratert" LLC to recover the debt
and the fines for delay in payment in the amount of 1.2 million AMD (about $
3,200).
As Chief Editor of "Hraparak" daily Armineh Ohanian told YPC, the debt to
"Gind" printing house, over 3 million AMD, has been accumulated during
January- September 2008. According to Armineh Ohanian, since October
"Hraparak" has started to be issued at "Tigran Mets" publishing house, where
the printing costs are lower. At the same time, while "Hraparak" was
gradually recovering the liabilities to "Gind", the publishing house went to
the court, the Chief Editor stressed.
It should be noted that "Hraparak" continues to be published with the same
periodicity.
ISSUE OF "PAKAGITS" DAILY SUSPENDED
On May 15 issue of "Pakagits" daily was suspended. As the Chief Editor of
the daily Agapi Haykazuni said, "Gind" printing house quit publishing the
daily due to debts. According to Agapi Haykazuni, the debt was formed
through the arrest put on the property and financial assets of "Pakagits"
founder, "Agap-ARD" LLC, as a pre-award relief to secure the suit filed by
Martun Ivanian.
The conflict started in 2006. On December 14, 2006 the court of primary
jurisdiction of Erebuni and Nubarashen communities of Yerevan committed the
founder of "Pakagits" (at that time it was "Agap-Hrat" LLC) to repaying the
debt of 9.048 million AMD to Martun Ivanian, formed as a result of
contractual liabilities. The debt was not paid, and on February 20, 2007 the
publication of "Pakagits" was suspended. The representatives of the RA
Service of Compulsory Execution of Court Acts took away the property of
"Agap-Hrat" from the editorial office. On February 22, 2007 the daily was
resumed, but yet with a new owner – "Agap-ARD" LLC (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, February 16-22, 2007).
In March 2009 Martun Ivanian filed a new suit, this time against Agapi
Haykazuni. As a pre- award relief the court of general jurisdiction of
Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun communities of Yerevan arrested the property and
financial assets of Agapi Haykazuni and "Agap-ARD" LLC. On May 18 the suit
was secured. The court committed Agapi Haykazuni to repaying Martun Ivanian
the debt, which, including percents, came to 9.54 million AMD (about $
25,500). Besides, the defendant has to compensate the sue charges in the
amount of 180,000 AMD.
CORRESPONDENT OF "CHORRORD ISHKHANUTIUN" SENTENCED TO A FINE FOR DISRESPECT
TO COURT
On May 14 court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash
communities of Yerevan read out the sentence on the case of correspondent of
"Chorrord Ishkhanutiun" newspaper Gohar Vezirian, accused on Part 3 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 dismissed from the courtroom upon the order of Judge Gagik
Avetisian. For over 1.5 hours the journalist was kept in the room, intended
for defendants, and later she was taken to the Kentron Police Department.
Staying at the Police for over two hours the correspondent of "Chorrord
Ishkhanutiun" was released. The criminal proceedings were instituted in
September, and the charge was brought against correspondent of "Chorrord
Ishkhanutiun" on December 24, 2008. The court hearings started on March 31,
2009 (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, March 27 – April 2, 2009).
At the session of May 14 the court found Gohar Vezirian guilty and filed her
to a fine in the amount of 350,000 AMD (about $ 950). As lawyer Hovik
Arsenian said to YPC, he is going to appeal the verdict with the upper court
jurisdiction.
It should be noted that more than a month ago, on April 17, the same court
of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash communities sentenced
free-lance journalist Gagik Shamshian to a similar penalty (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, April 17-23, 2009).
CASE ON ASSAULT OF ARMENIA TODAY COORDINATOR REQUALIFIED
The case upon the assault of Argishti Kivirian, Coordinator of ARMENIA Today
news agency, Director of "Bagin" legal company, was requalified to Article
34-104 of RA Criminal Code, i.e., murder attempt. As it has been reported,
on April 30 at about 5.00, strangers with bats attacked Argishti Kivirian on
his way home from the office which is located in the next entrance. Argishti
Kivirian in grave health condition and with multiple injuries, also on his
head, was taken to hospital, where he spent a week under in-patient
treatment. Right after the incident the police instituted criminal
proceedings on Article 117 of RA Criminal Code, "Intentional non-grave
health injuries", which was strictly criticized by lawyers, human rights
organizations. Later, the case was transmitted to the Investigative
Department of RA National Security Service. On May 8, free-lance journalist
Gagik Shamshian, convened to the National Security Service to give evidence,
confirmed the authenticity of the photos made at the site of attack, and
gave to investigators the source files of the digital photos. On Shamshian’s
photos the bloody bat and the gun shells are pictured (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, May 9-14, 2009).
AYDIN MORIKIAN PASSED AWAY
On May 19 well-known journalist Aydin Morikian passed away at the age of 52.
The Deputy Chief Editor of "Avangard" newspaper since 1987, in 1990 Aydin
Morikian headed "Hayastani Hanrapetutiun", the daily of the first Parliament
in independent Armenia. He started from nothing with a group of associates
and has headed "HH" for 7 years. Being elected deputy of the RA Supreme
Soviet (in 1990-1995) and of the RA National Assembly (in 1995-1999), in
1995-1996 Aydin Morikian was the RA Deputy Minister of Information. From
2000, he ran "Hayatsk Yerevanits" magazine, later "Orran" newspaper, he was
also the Executive Editor of "Zhamanak Yerevan" daily. During the last years
Aydin Morikian taught to the future journalists. In 2007 he became nominee
of Yerevan Press Club Annual Award – for creating manuals on journalism.
Long years of cooperation and friendship had bound us with Aydin. Both were
a pleasure for us.
Yerevan Press Club expresses sincere condolences to the family, friends and
to the whole journalistic community with the untimely death of Aydin
Morikian.
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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
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