Report states 3 cases of physical violence against the Media representatives during the second trimester
“10 cases of pressure have been recorded against the media representatives, which is twice less as compared to the data of the first trimester,” Ashot Melikyan, Chairman of the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression told reporters, while presenting the Committee report (April – June, 2016) on the freedom of speech and the protection of the journalists’ rights in Armenia.
According to the speaker, the sharp decline in the recorded cases is conditioned with the repeal of the Article 1087.1 of Armenia’s Civil Code allowing defamation lawsuits against media representatives.
For the period in consideration, 5 cases of violation of the right of the access to information and its dissemination were recorded, which is less by 5 as compared to the data of the previous trimester. For the indicated period the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression recorded 3 cases of physical violence against media representatives (no case of violence was registered in the first trimester).
To Melikyan, one peculiarity of the second trimester is the one registered case of a lawsuit against a media outlet. “After the repeal of the libel law back in 2010 resulting in the storm of such lawsuits, this appears to be a unique phenomenon,” Melikyan stressed.
The speaker next spoke about the Electoral Code and the accompanying legislative package, stressed that the newly adopted Code contains number of provisions for Undue restrictions on media and journalistic activities.
“With this respect, one positive fact to outline is that we managed to remove the punitive powers of the National Committee of the Television and Radio, specifically the right of suspension of the broadcasting license, envisaged by the Law on Television and Radio, submitted by the new Electoral Code,” noted Melikyan.
He next stated that in Armenia practices to insult the media representatives are gradually proliferating among high-ranking officials.