CJTeam, Yerevan, 05 Jun 2009 – “Journalists’ Team for Sustainable Future” NGO (CJTeam) expresses its concern about the recently increased debates over the journalists’ non professional behavior among the society and the efforts to circulate the draft law restricting freedom of the media.
Thus we would like to remind Article 27 of the RA Constitution – supreme juridical force – according to which “everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression including freedom to search for, receive and impart information and ideas by any means of information regardless of the state frontiers. Freedom of mass media and other means of mass information shall be guaranteed”.
CJTeam condemns acts of violence and encroachments upon the journalists during Yerevan City Council Elections May 31, 2009 and calls on law enforcement bodies to undertake measures to reveal the perpetrators of all the incidents.
According to our studies at least 10 journalists have been subjected to violence with their professional job being hampered during Yerevan City Council Elections at a number of polls.
Taking into consideration that these encroachments have been committed in the process of elections taken place in the capital only, we register that a situation has been created in Armenia, where journalists, who provide information stemming from the public interest, could be subjected to violence at any time of the day, in front of witnesses and in public places.
CJTeam is sure that the reason of such an aggressive mood by “the district good guys” against the journalists’ activity on May 31 was also the impunity of violence against journalists Argishti Kiviryan and Nver Mnatsakanyan on April 30 and May 7, 2009 as well as of the analogous cases realized over the past years.
Considering some ungrounded debates CJTeam calls on its colleagues not to succumb to provocations and not to be involved in disputes thus defending both personal self and the whole media community from criticism for reasons or without them.
We also call on to always follow professional principles – to record the facts and provide the society with only fact-based information.
We condemn any case of violence against journalists, at the same time rejecting such kind of behavior by a journalist that could shadow the dignity of the whole journalistic community.
Here is the list of journalists subjected to encroachments on May 31 in Yerevan City Council Elections:
1. “168 Zham” newspaper journalist Armine Avetyan, 8/05 polls
2. “Aravot” daily journalist Nelli Grigoryan, 7/25 polls
3. “Hayk” daily journalist Tetev Mesropyan, 9/01 polls
4. “Zhamanak Yerevan” daily journalist Marine Kharatyan, 9/01 polls
5. “Haykakan Zhamanak” daily freelance reporter Artur Hovakimyan, 8/01 polls
6. “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” newspaper journalist Gohar Veziryan, 9/01 polls
7. “Tert.am” website journalist Lilit Tadevosyan, 8/05 polls
8. “Liberty” radio station 2 journalists, 13/09 polls
9. “A1Plus.am” website journalist, 13/09 polls
“Journalists’ Team for Sustainable Future” NGO
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