The stoppage of the professional work of the
representatives of mass media who were taking photos and videos from the lodge
of the sitting hall of the National Assembly and their forceful removal from
there by the servicemen of the security service of the National Assembly was
categorically inadmissible.
These condemnable phenomena are becoming of continuous
nature, and the actions of the security servicemen do not have any
justifications
It should be reminded that the lodge of the National
Assembly was specifically built for the journalists
The Office of the Human Rights Defender discussed
today’s incidents with the journalists who were conducting professional work in
the National Assembly. They informed that they were removed from the lodge at
the moment when the situation was becoming tense in the sitting hall of the
National Assembly, and some disorder were developing.
For example, the journalist of Civilnet.am Mr. Gevorg
Tosunyan noted that the servicemen of the security service of the National
Assembly started removing them from the two lodges at the moment when they
realized that the situation in the sitting hall was becoming tense. The
security servicemen pushed the journalists out of the lodge, and when they
realized that he was videotaping the process, they dragged him in an aggressive
manner, and demanded that he stops filming and leaves the lodge.
In another incident, the journalist of Factor.am Ms.
Meri Martirosyan informed that the security servicemen took the m out of the
lodge by dragging and pushing them, without justifying their actions. This was
reaffirmed by the Journalist of Hraparak.am Mr. Vahe Makaryan.
The Office of the Human Rights Defender studied both
the published and unpublished videos.
The studies demonstrate that the servicemen were
aggressive towards the journalists.
They forbid the journalists from remaining in the room
reserved for them; and are removing some journalists from that room by using
physical violence
For example, in one of the videos, a serviceman in a
military uniform takes two women journalists out of the room by grabbing their
hands.
In another segment of the video, it is evident that
the servicemen enter another room reserved for journalists, immediately start
banning filming without making any specific demands or explaining the purpose
of their action, and without allowing journalists to understand the demand and
leave the room on their own.
It is not clear how journalists should conduct their
work without filming the security servicemen when they are everywhere.
Therefore, the restrictions applied on the activities
of the journalists in the building of the National Assembly since August 2
already demonstrate that they have nothing to do with the security issues of
the building, but simply restrict the activity of journalists without any
ground, create obstacles for journalistic activities and negatively affect the
reputation of journalism in the society.
The unobstructed professional activity of journalists
should be guaranteed even more so in the parliament, as it is the main
guarantor of the democracy in the country.
The free activity of journalists is a guarantee of
citizens' control over freedom of speech and, consequently, of state bodies and
officials.
The Human Rights Defender reaffirms his position that
a journalist should not be deprived of the right to receive
"first-hand" or "extremely important" information,
including the right to ask questions to deputies on site, to conduct interviews
or to receive comments.
It also refers to the opportunity of covering the
incidents of August 24-25 in the National Assembly.
The journalist should have the possibility to publish
information, that arises at a particular moment, including taking into
consideration that the journalist should not miss the opportunity to publish
sensational or exclusive information.
This should be taken into consideration by all the
deputies, both in the ruling and opposition factions.
Therefore, the position of the Human Rights Defender
is clear: obstacles to the activity of journalists in the National Assembly,
and in particular in the lodge, must be stopped immediately.
Mr. Arman Tatoyan
The Human Rights Defender of Armenia
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