YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
NOVEMBER 13-19, 2009
HIGHLIGHTS:
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: INTELLECTUALS AND DEMOCRATIC REFORMS
AMENDMENTS TO RA CRIMINAL CODE, STIFFENING PENALTY FOR IMPEDING JOURNALISTIC
ACTIVITIES, APPROVED IN FIRST HEARING
DECISION RENDERED ON THE SUIT OF "GIND" PRINTING HOUSE VERSUS FOUNDER OF
"CHORRORD ISHKHANUTIUN" NEWSPAPER
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: INTELLECTUALS AND DEMOCRATIC REFORMS
On November 17, 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. The guests of the program host, YPC
President Boris Navasardian were Mayis Nikoghosian, Director of State
College of "Mkhitar Sebastatsi" Educational Complex, and Narineh Tukhikian,
Director of House-Museum of Hovhannes Tumanian. The discussion centered on
role of intellectuals in promoting democratic reforms.
The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on November 24,
at 21.15.
AMENDMENTS TO RA CRIMINAL CODE, STIFFENING PENALTY FOR IMPEDING JOURNALISTIC
ACTIVITIES, APPROVED IN FIRST HEARING
On November 17 RA National Assembly approved the Draft Law "On the
Amendments and Supplements to the RA Criminal Code" in the first hearing.
The authors of the draft, NA deputies from "Orinats Yerkir" faction
Hovhannes Margarian and Heghineh Bisharian, presented an initiative on
supplementing Article 164 ("Impeding the Legitimate Professional Activities
of a Journalist") of RA Criminal Code. Namely, it was suggested that
impeding the legitimate professional activities of a journalist or forcing
the journalist, while on professional duties, to disseminate or not the
information, attended by either use of violence, or a threat of its use,
dangerous for the life and health of the journalist or a member of his/her
family, is to be sentenced by a fine of 250-450 minimum wage, or
correctional labor for not more than 2 years, or by imprisonment for not
more than 5 years.
The initiative is stipulated by a number of facts indicative of the scarce
degree of protection of journalists.
DECISION RENDERED ON THE SUIT OF "GIND" PRINTING HOUSE VERSUS FOUNDER OF
"CHORRORD ISHKHANUTIUN" NEWSPAPER
On November 16 court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash
communities of Yerevan rendered decision on the suit of "Gind" printing
house versus "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun" newspaper founder, "Ogostos" LLC. As it
has been reported, the plaintiff demanded to oblige "Ogostos" to pay off the
debt for printing costs. At the session of November 5 the court secured the
plaintiff’s petition, banning the issue of "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun". A
number of journalistic associations considered the ban as infringement of
the right on free dissemination of information (see YPC Weekly Newsletter,
November 6-12, 2009).
According to the court decision released on November 16, the ban imposed on
the newspaper’s issue will be valid till the repayment of liabilities in the
amount of 2 million 673 thousand AMD (around $ 6,900).
Chief Editor of "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun" Shogher Matevosian informed YPC
about the intention to appeal the decision with the upper court
jurisdiction. According to Shogher Matevosian, "Ogostos" LLC does not owe
any debts to the printing house, moreover the founder itself has financial
claims to "Gind".
It should also be noted that the editorial office of "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun"
and its publisher, "Trespassers W." LLC, continue publishing a new daily,
called "Chorrord Inknishkhanutiun" (being issued since November 10).
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]
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