Only one criminal case of violence against journalists reached court (video)
Six months have passes since the clashes between riot police and activists in a central Yerevan street but nobody has been punished for obstructing journalists' professional activities. On June 23, 2015, Armenian police used force and special means to clear the site of a demonstration on Baghramyan Avenue after a night of standoff with activists protesting against rising electricity prices. Special police forces used water cannons and other equipment to disperse hundreds of protesters who spent more than nine hours seated in the street not far from the presidential palace. Many demonstrators were also detained and taken to police stations in vehicles. Among the detainees were also some journalists. “The case was entrusted to one investigator, who [from the very beginning] demonstrated a cynical approach and looked through his fingers at the occurrence. The Prosecutor General had instructed the SIS to set up an investigative group to look into the clashes. After the group was formed, my constant contacts with lawyers and journalists showed that some of the group members were not experienced enough to investigate the case,” says Ashot Melikyan, Chairman of the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression. Thirty-one people, including 14 media representatives have been recognized as victims, but there are not suspects or accused persons. Specialists believe that it speaks about the quality of the SIS. “The rule of law has not yet been recognized in Armenia and our country is not ready to start criminal proceedings against officials or police who abuse the realm of their powers and execute the orders of the authorities,” he added. Since the problem is impossible to solve in Armenia, the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression has decided to appeal to international courts. “The problem is that criminal cases of violence against journalists are either dropped or left unattended,” says lawyer Ara Ghazaryan. Only one case concerning obstruction of a journalist's activities has reached court in Armenia in the past 7-8 years. Speaking about the case filed by Maine Khachatryan, a journalist working with A1+ Company, the lawyers said they have already appealed to the Cassation Court. On September 9, 2014, after members of the Hakaharvats (Counter Attack) street art group hung a banner reading “Hello Rob” (Rob referring to Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan) on the National Assembly’s main gate, the chief of the NA security Karen Hayrapetyan came out and tore down the banner. Then he hit A1+’s journalist Marine Khachatryan, who was covering the incident, on the arm, causing her to drop her recording device – iPad – to the ground. Karen Hayrapetyan then tried to hit the journalist for a second time but he missed her.
