NATIONAL PRESS CLUB EXPRESSES INDIGNATION OVER SENTENCING NIKOL PASHINIAN TO IMPRISONMENT

Noyan Tapan
Jan 20, 2010

YEREVAN, JANUARY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The National Press Club on January
20 made a statement expressing deep indignation over the judgement
sentencing editor-in-chief of the Haykakan Zhamanak daily Nikol
Pashinian to imprisonment.

The charge of "instigating mass disorders," according to NPC, indeed
is nothing else than exercising the right of having convictions,
staying loyal to them, receiving and spreading ideas reserved by the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, "for which Nikol Pashinian
will pay by 7 years’ imprisonment," NPC’s statement read.

According to NPC, such a judgement of the court has a goal of
sowing fear of professional activity among journalists and deepening
self-censorship.