Media in a trap
There is an attempt to turn newspaper editors into censors through the reforms made in the RA Civil Code, said today editor-in-chief of "Hraparak" daily newspaper Armine Ohanyan as she touched upon Robert Kocharyan's lawsuits against "Hraparak" and "Zhamanak" newspapers. Kocharyan is demanding financial compensation from these newspapers for hurting his honor and dignity.
"According to this law, we have found ourselves in an absurd and incomprehensible situation where we are forced to think about the fate of the newspaper after the release of a given article instead of freedom of speech and the freedom to create," said Armine Ohanyan, adding that print press is in a trap.
According to Ohanyan, the legislative reforms on defamation and insults are aimed at setting limits on the freedom of speech and the expression of thought. "If political figures are not ready to hear criticism, it means that the media is in a trap," said Ohanyan, mentioning that Robert Kocharyan's demand for 6 million is a threat to the newspaper.
According to editor-in-chief of "Zhamanak" newspaper Arman Babajanyan, these proceedings are politically motivated and are aimed at overseeing the media. "It's clear that the government sees a serious threat a year ahead of the elections. They fear that they may face serious problems during the 2012 and 2013 elections and are offering the editors-in-chief to cooperate and sponsor them to avoid proceedings," said Babajanyan.
The editors sound the alarm that there is an attempt to go back to the times of the Soviet media when everything was said in-between the lines. Nevertheless, Arman Babajanyan believes in freedom of speech in Armenia and says it is necessary to return to the old provisions of the law. Armine Ohanyan noted that it is very painful to deny something in the press.
The newspaper editors called on their colleagues to become mobilized and support them instead of judging them.
