Armen Harutiunyan, the state human rights ombudsman, described as “worrisome” the situation with media freedom in Armenia, in a special report released yesterday.
The report deplores physical attacks on local journalists, “restrictions” on news reporting and strong government influence on Armenian broadcast media. “There are numerous problems in the Republic of Armenia, and the course of reforms must be accelerated,” Harutiunyan said, presenting it at a news conference. “In particular, journalists are subjected to violence for performing their professional duties and, as a rule, the guilty are not brought to justice.” When speaking to us Harutiunyan mentioned that the situation in the media sector is in general worrisome. “In Armenia journalists are not sufficiently protected. Their activity is connected with risk,” said the Ombudsman and mentioned that although the journalists mostly know about their rights but they are not able to often practice those. According to Harutiunyan we don’t have to look for some other reasons. “The problem is that we are not a democratic country. That’s all,” he said. The Ombudsman presented the main obstacles that the media representatives often deal with. “The companies providing services to newspapers create artificial issues for them or the whole turnout of the newspapers is bought from the shops. Besides that, despite the fact that inspection of articles is forbidden in Armenia but starting from March 1, 2008 many newspapers were blamed of that.” The report includes approximately 15 cases of violence against journalists and cases of threats. Starting from 2002, due to their professional activity over a dozen journalists were beaten and murdered. In particular, in 2002, in the company of Abovyan private TV Company the founding director was beaten by an unknown person. The reason why he got beaten was that his journalists filmed one of the stores of the city. In the same year, prominent journalist Tigran Naghdalyan was murdered. One year later, the chief editor of Or daily Gayane Mukomyan and her husband, the director of Or daily was attacked. The culprits of this incident are not known and the newspaper stopped functioning. In 2004 violence was used against the editor-in-chief of Syunats Artsiv newspaper Samvel Alexanyan and in 2006 – against the chief editor Iravunk newspaper Hovhannes Galajyan. The Ombudsamn also spoke about the cases of violence against the chief editor of Hetk, Edik Baghdasaryan, coordinator of Armenia Today Argishti Kiviryan, against the anchor of Shant TV, Never Mnatsakanyan, photojournalist Gagik Shamshyan and other cases. Other reporters are also being abused or they are threatened for their professional activity. As an example, the Ombudsman mentioned that last year on May 31 on the day of the mayoral election violence was used against a reporter of Chorrord Ishkhanutyun Gohar Viziryan, employee of Haykakan Zhamanak daily Artur Hovakimyan, journalist of 168-Zham newspaper Armineh Avetyan, Tert.am journalist Lilit Tadevosyan and reporter of Aravot daily Nelly Grigoryan. Mr. Harutiunyan thinks that it is worrisome that none of the culprits is punished. According to the Defender, limitations of journalists’ freedom of speech very often have political background. “The fact that the greater part of breaches is committed during pre-electoral and electoral periods by this or that candidate and that very often in order to have votes, the candidate undertakes extreme steps, is a proof of this”, is said in the report. “The presented evidence is not evidence. Legal acts regulating relations connected with freedom of speech have been studied in the report composed of 5 chapters; it also dwells on the contradictions and mistakes the legislation contains, as well as on the provisions, which worsen the state of freedom of speech. The report brings concrete examples of violence against journalists during the latest years, as well as limitations of publication of a number of papers during the 20-day emergency situation declared after March 1 events.” He didn’t publicize exactly which statesman hindered the activities of the journalists. All he said is that they had examined the issue in a global context. According to Harutiunyan, although the number of such cases has decreased compared to previous years but the situation hasn’t improved in the sector. "The situation of freedom of speech is most concerning in Armenia," RA Ombudsman noted in his 10th ad hoc report. Last year the Ombudsman has received 18 complaints regarding limitation of 18 cases. The Human Rights Defender said that it is necessary to develop a package of legislative changes, which will provide more opportunities for freedom of speech. He said that although changes are necessary but those are not enough. “I do not expect any revolutionary outcome of this report, but I hope it will become a subject of interested discussion, parliamentary hearings will be held as well as law amendments will be carried out”, this is the assessment of the Armenian Ombudsman Armen Harutiunyan.