Statement of 21 April
By reconfirming our assessment and demands mentioned in the April 19 Statement, we present below the cases of violence against the journalists and hindering their professional activities during April 20-21.
In the morning of April 21, in the 7 the district of Nor Nork, Factor.TV’s camera was damaged as a a result of a crush during the march of Nikol Pashinyan and his supporters.
Near Artashat, people wearing civilian clothing physically attacked Azatutyun Radio
correspondent Arus Hakobyan, causing injuries. The police officers, who were on the scene then, did noting to prevent the violence.
On the same day, near Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan’s house in Avan district, CivilNet.am’s journalist Ani Grigoryan was attacked. A person wearing civilian clothing became discontent with the journalist’s question about the reason for the gathering of people, who did not participate in the demonstrations. It is noteworthy that violence by people wearing civilian clothing against demonstrators and journalists becomes widespread. Apparently, people gathered around the Mayor’s house represented a similar group.
On April 21 two more journalists of CivilNet.am collided with police officers. Tatul Hakobyan was forcefully hindered to shoot at the moment, when presumably an attempt was made to isolate and to bring to the police station Nikol Pashinyan, MP and leader of the “Take a Step, Reject Serzh” movement. Alina Sargsyan was heavily beaten on the back by an officer in “red cap”, when near Mashtots avenue-Amiryan street intersection the journalist shot bringing the demonstrators to the police station.
A day before, Tirayr Muradyan, a journalist of Sut.am, was brought to a police station from
Yerevan-Abovyan highway. Notwithstanding his wearing a badge and confirming being a
journalist, he was forcefully taken to a police car and was brought back to the same spot after a
while.
In an intersection in Nor Nork, a person wearing civilian clothing and practicing violence against the demonstrators beat Lragir.am journalist Tehmine Yenokyan on her head, when he saw the journalist shooting their actions. A woman, who was there at that moment, pulled the journalist’s hair and tore off her bag cord. As stated by Tehmine Yenokyan, the citizens confirmed that people practicing violence previously introduced themselves as municipality employees, and later closely communicated with the police officers.
Near Mashtots park, during the demonstrators’ march from Amiryan street to Mashtots avenue, the police officers attempted to bring to the police station News.am and Azatutyun Radio journalists, who were covering their actions. In the opinion of the journalists, in this and in previous cases they were probably confused with demonstrators.
COMMITTEE TO PROTECT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
YEREVAN PRESS CLUB
MEDIA INITIATIVES CENTER
“ASPAREZ” JOURNALISTS CLUB
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CENTER OF ARMENIA
MEDIA DIVERSITY INSTITUTE – ARMENIA
PUBLIC JOURNALISM CLUB
“JOURNALISTS FOR THE FUTURE” NGO
“JOURNALISTS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS” NGO
GORIS PRESS CLUB
ARMENIAN HELSINKI COMMITTEE
“RULE OF LAW” NGO
“HUMAN RIGHTS POWER” NGO
UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF ARMENIA
