THREE YEARS OF ZHAMANAK DAILY’S EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ARMAN BABAJANIAN’S IMPRISONMENT TO BE MARKED ON JUNE 26
Noyan Tapan
June 25, 2009
YEREVAN, JUNE 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Protectors of freedom of expression
will mark the third year of Zhamanak daily’s editor-in-chief Arman
Babajanian’s imprisonment with an action of protest to be organized
on June 26 at 12:00 before President’s residence.
A number of media heads’ June 25 joint statement mentioned that
over three years various human rights and journalist organizations
have been calling for immediately releasing opposition newspaper’s
editor-in-chief.
In consideration of all illegal and ungrounded rejections to
suspendedly release him ahead of the schedule over three years,
the statement authors record that with acts of violence used by
the authorities to A. Babajanian in 2006 and to various media
representatives since then and going on up to the present are only
the first link of the general policy being ruled from a common center.
"The Armenian authorities failed to understand that repressive methods
and violent actions towards freedom of expression and human rights
deliver a terrible blow to our country’s international rating. The
highest instances forcedly silencing freedom of expression failed to
understand that any step exerting pressure upon freedom of expression
considerably damages Armenia’s international authority, causes
serious doubts on Armenia’s adherence to democratic and universal
values. Our country has assumed fulfillment of these commitments
before authoritative international structures," the statment read. It
was signed by A1+ company director Mesrop Movsesian, Haykakan
Zhamanak newspaper editor Hayk Gevorgian, Aravot newspaper editor
Aram Abrahamian, 168 Hours newspaper editor Satik Seyranian, Hayk
newspaper editor Gegham Nazarian, Taregir newspaper editor-in-chief
Vasak Darbinian, Lragir.am website editor Haykaz Ghahriyan, and
Zhamanak newspaper’s editorial staff.