YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
MARCH 19-25, 2010
HIGHLIGHTS:
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: EASTERN PARTNERSHIP AND DEMOCRATIC REFORMS
SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH DAY IN GYUMRI
INCIDENT AT "HAYOTS ASHKHAR" DAILY
JUDGMENTS ON THE SUITS OF FOI CENTER RENDERED
"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: EASTERN PARTNERSHIP AND DEMOCRATIC REFORMS
On March 23, 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 Naira Zohrabian, Chairwoman of parliamentary Standing
Commission on European Integration, Larisa Minasian, Executive Director of
Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation-Armenia, and Gevorg
Ter-Gabrielian, Country Director of Eurasia Partnership Foundation. The
discussion centered on the role of Eastern Partnership EU program in the
implementation of democratic reforms in Armenia.
The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on March 30, at
21.15.
SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH DAY IN GYUMRI
On March 25, the Freedom of Speech Day was celebrated in "Asparez"
Journalists’ Club of Gyumri. This day is marked in Gyumri for already the
second year. On this occasion "Asparez" gave memorable gifts to a number of
journalists and media: "Lragir.am" online publication (for a cycle of
analytical and publicist articles); "Hetq" online publication (for covering
regional events); "7or.am" Internet portal (for a cycle of political
cartoons); Voskan Sargsian, correspondent of "Qamut" TV company, "Tesankyun"
newspaper and "Hetq" (for active journalistic work); free lance photo
journalist Gagik Shamshian (for prompt and exposing photojournalism);
Armenuhi Vardanian, correspondent of "GALA" TV company (for covering the
public and political events); Tatul Hakobian (for the book "Green and
Black").
The Freedom of Speech Day was found in 2009 to mark the settlement of the
situation with "GALA" TV company of Gyumri: the payment of tax liability by
founder of "GALA", "CHAP" LLC, which almost put the TV company on the edge
of closing down. The funds for paying off the debt were donated by
individuals and organizations, both Armenian and international. The tax
inspections at "CHAP" LLC (and the following lawsuits) started, as soon as,
on October 22, 2007, the "CHAP" owner Vahan Khachatrian announced about the
attempts of various power agencies to exert pressure on "GALA".
Meanwhile, on March 23 "GALA" TV company released a statement, noting that
"as a result of direct pressure of some power agencies, since mid-February
the advertisers avoid of placing their commercials on the air of ‘GALA’".
According to the TV company, for the last month 26 companies removed their
advertisements from "GALA", and currently it only has 3 advertisers.
Likewise, informs "GALA", in 2007 the TV company was deprived of more than
30 advertisers in three days. The TV company stated that it reduces the
price tenfold: from now on "one minute of advertisement will cost a nominal
price of 960 AMD".
INCIDENT AT "HAYOTS ASHKHAR" DAILY
On March 20 at 16.30 Kentron Police Department of Yerevan received an alarm
from "Armenia" Medical Center, informing that Manvel Kirakosian has
addressed to the Center to get medical assistance. Manvel Kirakosian stated
that he was blown on his head with a baton at the editorial office of
"Hayots Ashkhar" daily. The information about the incident was stored on the
RA Police website on March 22. According to the communication of RA Police,
on the same day at 15.00 at "Hayots Ashkhar" office, Manvel Kirakosian got
into a quarrel with Gagik Mkrtchian, Chief Editor of the daily, rolled him
over and started giving blows. When the son of Gagik Mkrtchian, Vahan
Mkrtchian saw this, he stroke Kirakosian on his head with a baton. The case
is under investigation. Gagik Mkrtchian and Manvel Kirakosian are sent to
medical examination, the communication of RA Police noted.
JUDGMENTS ON THE SUITS OF FOI CENTER RENDERED
On March 19 RA Court of Cassation released the judgment on the application
of Freedom of Information Center. The organization appealed the decision of
RA Administrative Court of August 13, 2009 regarding the dismissal of its
suit versus the Administration of Parakar rural community (Armavir region).
As it has been reported, in July 2009 FOI Center addressed the court with
suits on non-provision of information versus Administrations of six rural
communities, "Office on Implementing Programs of Construction and
Investments in Yerevan" state non-commercial organization and their heads
(see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, July 10-16, 2009). In the suit versus
Parakar Administration FOI Center demanded to hold the inaction of the
Village Elder Samvel Vardanian (who did not answer fully in January 2009 to
the request on land allotment), to impose a fine of 50,000 AMD (about $ 130)
on him, as well as, charge from the rural community the state duty of 12,000
AMD for filling the court.
At the session of March 19 the Court of Cassation secured the claim of the
plaintiff partially. The Court stated that the Elder of Parakar village
could not answer the request fully, as it did not dispose of the required
information for some objective reasons. The Court of Cassation called off
the decision of the Administrative Court and sent the case for
reconsideration by the same jurisdiction.
Earlier, on March 18, the court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and
Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan secured the suit of FOI Center versus
Labor Socialist Party of Armenia. As it has been reported, in April 2009 FOI
Center made inquiries to seven political unions (registered at the RA
Central Electoral Commission for running in the elections of Yerevan Council
of Elderly of May 31, 2009) requesting the copies of their financial reports
for 2008 and information about sources of charitable contributions exceeding
the hundred-fold of the minimum wage. The Republican Party of Armenia, ARF
"Dashnaktsutiun", "Prosperous Armenia" and the Popular Party gave an
exhaustive reply and in terms defined by the law. "Orinats Yerkir" granted
incomplete information with a delay, while, the Armenian National Congress
party bloc and the Labor Socialist Party of Armenia did not respond to the
inquiry at all. Suits were filed versus this three political unions (see YPC
Weekly Newsletter, September 3-10, 2009). On October 22, 2009 the suit
versus "Orinats Yerkir" was revoked, as the party granted the required
information during the court hearings. On December 22, 2009 the suit versus
Armenian National Congress was also turned down, based on the fact that,
according to RA Civil Procedure Code, only legal entities or individuals can
appear as defendants at court, while the Congress, as a bloc does not match
this requirement.
At the session of March 18 the court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and
Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan obliged the Labor Socialist Party of
Armenia to provide with the information inquired by FOI Center in a term of
5 days.
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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
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Yerevan Press Club
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Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
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