NEW INITIATIVE WILL ENSURE BETTER PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS’ RIGHTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.02.2010 18:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Orinats Yerkir party initiated a legislation
on amendments to RA Criminal code, envisaging better protection
of journalists’ rights, Orinats Yerkir parliamentary group member
Hovhannes Margaryan stated at RA NA briefing.

According to Margaryan, the bill is being read for the second time
at RA NA. "The legislation envisages punishment by a penalty of 400
times the minimum wage for inhibiting professional activities of a
journalist. Threatening a journalist or his family is punishable by
3 to 7 years in prison," Hovhannes Margaryan explained.

Orinats Yerkir party was founded in 1997. After March 12, 2007
parliamentary elections Orinats Yerkir became part of ruling coalition,
being presented in RA NA by 8 members. 3 ministerial positions are
occupied by Orinats Yerkir members in Armenian Government. Party
leader Artur Baghdasaryan is currently the Secretary of RA National
Security. At present the party lists over 100 000 members.