A1+ TV journalist Marine Khachatryan was attacked on September 9, by the Baghramyan Avenue entrance to the National Assembly, while covering a picket by the Hakaharvats group. The participants of the picket held a poster with “Hello, Rob” on it, to remind of the murder of Poghos Poghosyan, who had greeted the second RA President Robert Kocharyan with these exact words in Poplavok café 13 years ago.

The journalist was filming the poster placed on the National Assembly fence, as well as the person rushing towards the fence from the territory of the parliament. The latter ripped the poster away and attacked the journalist, hit her hand and made her drop the recording device to the ground.

When the witnesses to the incident demanded to know who he was, the person, who behaved aggresively and violently towards the journalist, identified himself as a “security officer.” It became know later that he was Karen Hayrapetyan, the head of the National Assembly security service.

We, the undersigned, strongly condemn the violence, which we consider to be hindering the professional duties of a journalist, which is a criminal offense.

In view of the above, we demand:

–         The RA National Assembly to sanction the aforementioned individual and take measures to prevent such incidents in the future,

–         The RA Prosecutor’s Office to consider this statement as report of a crime.

COMMITTEE TO PROTECT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB

MEDIA INITIATIVES CENTER (FORMER INTERNEWS-ARMENIA)

ASPAREZ JOURNALISTS CLUB

MEDIA DIVERSITY INSTITUTE – ARMENIA

JOURNALISTS FOR THE FUTURE NGO

A1+ TV COMPANY