The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined its affiliate in Armenia, the Union of Journalists of Armenia (UJA), in denouncing the authorities’ misuse of anti-hooliganism legislation to suppress press freedom and freedom of expression. The EFJ and UJA demand the immediate release of Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan, co-authors of the podcast “Imnemnimi”, imprisoned for criticising Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
The right of return of Karabakh Armenians is not only a matter of justice and human rights but also essential for promoting peace, stability, and reconciliation in the region. The historic, cultural and religious heritage of Armenian people in Nagorno Karabakh cannot be lost, and this issue shall not be abandoned,” Armen Gevorgyan said.
“The violation of human rights and the decline of democracy are obvious in the Republic of Armenia. In front of the international community, the current government of Armenia pretends to progress in democracy, while grossly violating human rights and fundamental freedoms.
— The anatomy of today’s calamity and nightmare is as glaringly evident as a high-resolution MRI scan of the human body. Error upon error by Nikol Pashinyan has cascaded into war and the first partial loss of Nagorno Karabakh.
Last week in Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced what has been described as a “landmark plan to help pull Armenia out of Russia’s orbit.”
Interview with International Relations expert from Stanford University Dr. Arthur Khachikian
We all know the disasters that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan brought upon Armenia in addition to losing Artsakh due to his incompetence.
Armen Ashotyan’s speech, vice-chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), a political prisoner, during the discussion of the issue of allowing him to participate in the congress of the largest European political family, the European People’s Party (EPP).
Now, Vazgen and I, media practitioners, whose podcast has been aired for a year, with about 90 episodes and with more than 100 guests, have been imprisoned for two months for calling the government officials and the Prime Minister himself “son of a bitch”. Let me formulate my question. Madam Ambassador, which type of administration is characterized by such permissiveness? Do you think this behavior is typical of democracy or steadily developing authoritarianism? What is your assessment?
Rather than using the term genocide as a cudgel to bash each other, both Israel and Turkey should have recognized the Armenian Genocide long ago, in order to be classified among the ranks of civilized nations!
