“Criminal persecution was ordered”
The Helsinki Citizens Assembly Vanador Office strictly condemns the actions of law-enforcement bodies that lead to assaults and pressures against journalists and demands the immediate release of "Haykakan Zhamanak" Daily's issuing correspondent, journalist Hayk Gevorgyan, as well as multifaceted and impartial investigation.
According to the declaration of "Haykakan Zhamanak" Daily's editorial staff, on 3 February 2012 at around 11 a.m. the "special police force" arrested "Haykakan Zhamanak" Daily's issuing correspondent, well-known journalist Hayk Gevorgyan and transferred him to Nubarashen Penitentiary.
In this period, Hayk Gevorgyan has not been allowed to make phone calls, and no official body has notified his relatives of his arrest.
Employees of the RA Police Kentron division explained the decision on transferring the journalist to the penitentiary by saying that Hayk Gevorgyan had been under persecution since 23 January in relation to a road accident.
According to the RA Criminal Procedure Code, a person can be subject to criminal persecution, if the site of his location is unknown and if he avoids investigation.
Hayk Gevorgyan on 23 January and after that, has continued his journalistic activities, has driven the same car, has gone to work and returned home in that car every day, has participated in the government's sessions and has provided coverage of the press conferences given by high-ranking officials, including ministers.
In this period, Hayk Gevorgyan has also had several phone conversations with the road patrol investigator leading an investigation into his case and is ready to show up to the investigation, if he is sent a proper notification in accordance with the RA legislation.
The investigator leading an investigation into the case has been notified of the site where Hayk Gevorgyan was driving and has been proposed to examine the scene, but the proposals have been rejected.
This kind of development of events serves as grounds to register that the police are fulfilling the order of an investigation against the pivotal representative of "Haykakan Zhamanak" newspaper in relation to his journalistic activities.
After a government session on 12 January, Hayk Gevorgyan participated in a question-and-answer session with Chief of Police Vova Gasparyan, gave some sharp questions, and as a result, released an article that was humiliating for Vova Gasparyan in the "Haykakan Zhamanak" newspaper. The humiliation is not due to the journalist's predetermination, but the lack of commentary on facts in relation to the RA Chief of Police (see the January 13 edition of "Haykakan Zhamanak" newspaper). On the day of the newspaper release, an attempt was made to turn the accident-incident over to Hayk Gevorgyan, but it didn't work out.
The developments that followed cause doubt that Hayk Gevorgyan's arrest and the phony criminal persecution were ordered by RA Chief of Police Vova Gasparyan. We assume that the latter became really frustrated after reading the article entitled "Me Putchur Nver" (A Little Gift) released on the first page of the February 3 edition of "Haykakan Zhamanak" newspaper in which the author talks about how Gasparyan received a G class Mercedes for 120-150,000 dollars," as stated in the message.
