Armenia: Radio Free Europe journalist attacked reporting on fraudulent activities during elections

The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ and EFJ) have condemned an attack on Armenian correspondent Sisak Gabrielian by activists of the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) while he was covering parliamentary elections in Yerevan on 2 April, 2017. Reporting for the Armenian service of Radio Free Europe (RFE) during the parliamentary elections, Sisak Gabrielian was hit in the face by one of the ruling HHK party activists and forced out of the office by polling station attendants after having noticed and started filming alleged fraudulent activities. According to the RFE Armenian service, Gabrielian noticed that many residents voting…

Armenia: excessive police force used against journalists covering demonstration

The European and International Federation of Journalists (EFJ/IFJ) condemn the violence used by police forces against journalists covering a demonstration in Yerevan, Armenia, on 29 July. At least ten journalists suffered burns, bruises and injuries. The media workers injured in the latest clashes include three journalists of Radio Liberty’s Armenian service Karlen Aslanyan, Hovhannes Movsisyan and Garik Harutiunian; journalists of CivilNet and A1+ TV; journalists of 1in.am website Mariam Grigoryan and cameraman David Harutyunyan; the correspondent of Armenia TV Aghvan Asoyan and cameraman Albert Galstyan; the journalist of Lragir.am Marut Vanyan; and the cameraman of the Russian Life TV, according to local media reports. The director of…

Armenia must fully investigate police attacks on media workers

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have together condemned the actions of Armenian police who attacked and briefly detained at least 10 media workers who were covering a demonstration on 23 June in Yerevan (Armenia). The two organisations have asked the authorities to investigate the incidents and punish the perpetrators. According to media reports, at least 10 media workers were assaulted and briefly detained by police officers who destroyed phones, cameras, laptops and video equipment of many journalists. The police also confiscated the memory cards of those who had filmed the crackdown against…