The
competent representative of the RA Investigative Committee gave public
clarification that the RA Investigative Committee had sent official letters to
the editorial administration of Armlur.am and Hayeli.am news websites with regard
to the criminal proceeding initiated into circumstances of the former head of the
RA Police Hayk Harutyunyan’s death. According to the Investigating Authority, the
purpose of the sent letters is to identify the authors of articles and to
interrogate them on the circumstances of the case that are subject to
clarification.
The
Human Rights Defender deems necessary to make it publicly known that this issue
is in his spotlight given the fact that it is related to the professional work
of journalists. Moreover, the concerns raised by the media heads that they
might be required to disclose their sources of information are already
recorded. They consider the sending the media letters for interrogation as a form
of pressure.
In
view of the above, the Defender warns the investigating and other law
enforcement authorities that the professional work of journalists and media
practitioners enjoy the concrete protection guarantees with respect to their
involvement in criminal proceedings. They may be obliged to disclose the source
of information only in the cases and conditions listed exhaustively in the Law (court
decision, the purpose of disclosing serious or particularly serious crime, the
exhaustion of other means for the protection of public interest, etc.). Moreover,
it is necessary to prove that these conditions are simultaneously present in
every case.
The
guarantees for the confidentiality of journalists’ sources require criminal
prosecution authorities to pay special attention to the issue of involvement of
a journalist in the criminal proceeding regarding their professional activity
or while making statements on them, regardless of their status. All public
authorities and officials should respect this safeguards in their actions and
statements.
The
professional work of journalists directly derives from the fundamental value of
freedom of speech prescribed by the RA Constitution and international
obligations, it contributes to ensuring the civil oversight over the state, and
it should benefit from special protection. The professional work of journalists
has strategic importance for the Human Rights Defender.
The
Human Rights Defender will be permanently in contact with the media heads by
keeping this issue is in his spotlight and actions of the investigating
authorities will be under his direct monitoring.
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