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