During the clampdown on the demonstrations in Sari Tagh and Khorenatsi Street in Yerevan in the evening of July 29 the police forces targeted journalists again. In the result of the use of force our colleagues were injured: Hovhannes Movsisyan, Karlen Aslanyan and Garik Harutiunyan (Radio Liberty), Robert Ananyan and Tigran Badalyan (A1+), Mariam Gevorgyan and Davit Harutiunyan (1in.am), Gevorg Ghazaryan (freelance photo reporter), Hovik Grigoryan (Panorama.am), Aghvan Asoyan and Albert Galstyan (Armenia TV), Sargis Kharazyan and Mkrtich Karapetyan (Civilnet.am), Marut Vanyan (Lragir.am).
This list is preliminary, the actions were massive, so more people may have been injured. In addition, aside from physical violence, video and photo cameras were smashed, videos and photos were erased, the activities of journalists were hindered in other ways.
This is not the first targeted attack of the police at the media workers with a view to preventing them from reporting objective information on the violence committed. In this context, the statement by the Police Department of Public Outreach and Information that the cases of violence against journalists will be investigated sounds at least ridiculous. We already know how similar incidents of Police brutalities are “investigated”. Evidence is 23 June 2015 and other similar incidents which have not been revealed yet.
Our innumerable statements, appeals and calls to end physical violence against reporters and hindrances to their legitimate professional activities have not been answered, and there is no change in the style of the Police.
In the existing situation we find it useless to demand anything from the police and other law enforcement agencies and we reserve the right to use other lawful ways of defending the interests of journalists.
COMMITTEE TO PROTECT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
YEREVAN PRESS CLUB
MEDIA INITIATIVES CENTER (FORMER INTERNEWS)
MEDIA DIVERSITY INSTITUTE – ARMENIA
PUBLIC JOURNALISM CLUB
JOURNALISTS FOR FUTURE NGO
JOURNALISTS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NGO
GORIS PRESS CLUB
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CENTER
INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS NGO
REGION RESEARCH CENTER
