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''I sent a summary report on journalists’ rights violations''. Tovmasyan

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Monday, 27 June, 2022, 12:00
''I sent a summary report on journalists’ rights violations''. Tovmasyan

I sent a summary report on journalists’ rights violations
to the international organizations dealing with journalists’ rights protection

I had got a number of alerts during the peaceful disobedience actions of the opposition regarding the violations of journalists’ rights, the obstruction of their free professional activity.
As I promised my international colleagues, I have prepared a summary report with the relevant references on the violence against journalists, the violations of the rights of the members of so called fourth power by the representatives of the authority of journalists declaring itself as democratic.
I have specially noted in the report:
• On May 2, 2022 the Head of the State Guard Service Sargis HOVHANNISYAN and the member of the staff hit the journalist Nare GEVORGYAN and the operator Arman GHARAJYAN, the microphone of the journalist at Baghramyan-Proshyan streets cross-roads (Link follows: https://armlur.am/1183388/)․ I had sent a relevant letter to the Prosecutor General, then to the Anti-Corruption and Investigative committees, but I was informed by the reply letter that a decision was made about the refusal of the initiation of a criminal case.
• On May 2, 2022 Security staff hit the shoulder of Davit FIDANYAN’s shoulder, the correspondent of "AntiFake" News Website with a fist in Abovyan Street, Yerevan․ They tried to push Davit FIDANYAN and Ishkhan KHOSROVYAN, the Operator of "AntiFake" News Website, also tried to bring him to the police department (Link follows: https://168.am/2022/05/07/1698233.html).
• On May 2, 2022 Lia SARGSYAN, a journalist in "Yerkir.am" lost her consciousness during the pushing between demonstrators and policemen at Sayat-Nova-Abovyan streets cross-roads (Link follows: https://hetq.am/hy/article/144074). I had sent a relevant letter to the Prosecutor General, then to the Anti-Corruption and Investigative committees, but I was informed by the reply letter that regarding the case of losing Lia SARGSYAN’s consciousness materials were not prepared in the departments of pre-trial proceedings.
• On May 4, 2022 Hayk SARGSYAN, Member of Parliament of the Republic of Armenia (Faction “Civil Contract”) took away “Yerevan Today” News Website correspondent Syuzi BADOYAN’s mobile phone in the National Assembly causing her a hand injury (Link follows: https://yerevan.today/.../hayk-sargsyany-xlel-e-yerevan...).
• On May 9, 2022 the policeman hit the camera of “Aravot.am” near the bridge “Victory” trying to hinder the journalist Ashot HAKOBYAN’s professional activity (Link follows: http://uaj.am/5329.html).
• On May 30, 2022 policemen brought "yerkir.am" website editor Vahe SARGSYAN to the police department during the clashes between the protestors and policemen near Government House 3 (Link follows: https://168.am/2022/05/30/1712276.html).
• On May 30, 2022 policemen resorted to violent force against Hrant SARAFYAN, the journalist in “Iravunk” Newspaper hitting and knocking down near Government House 3 https://factor.am/518041.html . I had sent a relevant letter to the Prosecutor General but I got a reply letter from the National Security Service on the refusal to initiate a criminal case.
I have highlighted in my summary report that resorting to violence against journalists performing their professional work, obstructing their activity are absolutely inadmissible. I also noted that when attending to their duties on maintaining public order the Police should provide such conditions where a journalist is able to perform free professional work.
I requested the heads of international organizations dealing with journalists’ rights protection and the heads of other international organizations to undertake all the possible relevant measures towards the protection of the rights of journalists.
Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, non-partisan Taguhi Tovmasyan