YPC, Yerevan, 26 Dec 2008 – On December 24 the Police Department of Kentron community of Yerevan charged freelance journalist Gagik Shamshian and correspondent of “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun” newspaper Gohar Vezirian with Part 1 of Article 343 of the RA Criminal Code (“Disrespect to Court”).
As it has been reported, incidents with journalists occurred during the hearing of the same case in the court of primary jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan. On August 5, 2008 upon the order of judge Gagik Avetisian Gagik Shamshian was put out of the courtroom. The journalist was first locked in the basement of the court building and was further moved to the Kentron Police Department. The next day, August 6, a similar sanction was applied to Gohar Vezirian: upon the order of the same judge the journalist was put out of the courtroom, she was kept for about an hour and half in a room, intended for defendants, and was further moved to Kentron Police Department. Having spent over two hours in the police department, Gagik Shamshian and Gohar Vezirian were released on August 5 and 6 respectively. The criminal proceedings against journalists were instituted in September, 2008.
As YPC was told by attorney Hovik Arsenian, journalists do not plead guilty, saying it was the judge who exceeded his competence. Part 1 of Article 343 of the RA Criminal Code stipulates a fine ranging from 100 to 300 minimal salaries or imprisonment of one to two months.
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