Media NGOs demand to bring police officers, which obstruct the work  of media to account

ArmInfo.The Media NGOs  of Armenia demand to bring the police officers, which obstruct the work of the media to account. The statement notes that on August 18, in the courtyard of the  National Assembly, a walk-action was organized in the name of the  protection of Amulsar and Jermuk, however, the police impeded the  professional activities of a group of journalists. So, law  enforcement officers did not allow media representatives to enter  this territory and cover the event, and after that they demanded  permission from the head of the parliamentary staff and only after  that to provide a shooting. After a skirmish that lasted about half  an hour, the police still let the journalists in, recording their  names, surnames, patronymics and names of the media. "We, the undersigned organizations, state that during the state of  emergency caused by the coronavirus, this is not the first time that  police officers, in their own way commenting on the law and the  rights of journalists, abuse their powers and interfere with the  activities of the media. It is appropriate to recall the demands to  remove "panic-causing" publications from the media, as well as to  selectively visit TV companies and initiate administrative  proceedings due to the lack of masks during TV broadcasts.   Proceeding from the above, we demand from the RA Police to initiate  an internal investigation, to reveal the journalists hindering the  legal activities of August 18, and to bring them to justice. We also  call on the RA Government to clearly instruct law enforcement  officers to act within their powers and not to use the conditions of  the state of emergency as an excuse to interfere or unjustifiably  restrict the work of the media, "the statement says. The document was signed by Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression, Yerevan Press Club, Media Initiatives Center, "Asparez" Jornalists'  Club,  Freedom of Information Center,  Media Diversity Institute,  Public Journalism Club, <Journalists for the Future> NGO,  Goris Press Club.