President Reportedly Takes over Investigation as Interior Minister Admits Journalist’s Disappearance Could Be Linked to His Work

By Louise Hallman, IPI Press Freedom Advisor for Europe

Vienna, 23 August 2010 – The International Press Institute (IPI) expressed concern today over the safety of Ukrainian journalist Vasyl Klymentyev, who has been missing in the country for 10 days. »»»»»

Identify and Bring To Justice Those Who Attack Journalists, Letter By Anthony Mills, Press Freedom&Communications Manager
The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) would like to
announce the following:

Vienna, 12 August 2010 – The International Press Institute (IPI), the world’s oldest global press freedom organisation with members from the world’s leading media outlets, addressed an open letter to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Tuesday 10 August 2010 respectfully urging him to address a disturbing deterioration in press freedom over the last six months in Ukraine. »»»»»

Did other considerations cloud his judgment in “Ijevan Mayor v Investigative Journalists” or isn’t he aware of legal precedent?

The Armenian courts have been investigating the suit brought by the Ijevan mayor against the Investigative Journalists NGO for more than two years. The suit demands an official retraction of two articles published in Hetq that the municipality claims contains slander that not only blemishes the honor of the mayor but his dignity and good name as well and harms the legal activities of the municipality. »»»»»

Mikayel Amirkhanyan, Rector of the Yerevan Humanities Institute, has filed a defamation suit in the courts against Hetq reporter Ani Hovhannisyan, arguing that her article “Yes, I am engaged in business” (June 3, 2010) slanders his good name, honor and reputation.

Mr. Amirkhanyan is demanding a retraction by the reporter. He is also asking 200,000 in material damages and 4,000 for a government fine already paid. »»»»»

The criminal defamation case that had been brought against the newspaper “Azatamtutyun” by Heritage Party MP Zaruhie Postanjyan, has been dropped by the courts since the charge has been decriminalized.

MP Postanjyan told Hetq that she would probably pursue the matter in the civil courts. The paper in question has since closed.

Ijevan Municipality to Receive “Slander” Retraction

On July 9, the Kentron and Nork-Marash Districty Court, Judge Gagik Khandanyan presiding, sustained the claim of the Ijevan mayor against the Investigative Journalists, NGO.

The decision obligates the Investigative Journalist, NGO, the “Azg” daily and the Hetq website to issue a retraction of two articles written by reporter Voskan Sargsyan that, “contained baseless information defaming the professional credibility of the Ijevan Municipality and the good name of Ijevan Mayor V. Nersisyan, and to proclaim that such information has no basis in reality.” »»»»»

According to a study presented at the “Freedom of Speech” assembly, convened by the RoA Human Rights Ombudsman, pressures brought to bear against reporters often are politically motivated.

Mr. Harutyunyan stated, “This is borne out by the fact that pressure and violence goes up during elections campaigns. For a variety of objective and subjective reasons, many incidents of violations against reporters never are resolved.” »»»»»

According to an unnamed reporter at the newspaper “Haykakan Zhamanak”, the RoA Presidential Palace does not allow opposition papers to cover the actions of President Serzh Sargsyan. The reporter forwarded his complaint to Armen Harutyunyan, Armenia’s Human Rights Ombudsman.

In response, Mr. Harutyunyan said, “To be honest, I don’t know if the presidential palace allows such coverage or not, but there have been incidents when the regime and the opposition (ANC) have not allowed certain papers to cover issues.” »»»»»

Who will come out on top after the upcoming licensing competition

The next stage in the formulation of Armenia’s TV market is reaching its close. During the next few weeks, the main players in the market will become clear and most probably there will be some changes in who owns what TV companies. »»»»»

Ups and Downs of Two Year Slander Suit Coming to a Close?

“The scores of Ijevan cabbies who ply their trade along the pot-holed roads of the regional district center always have a few “choice words” to remember the Mayor by.” »»»»»

Vienna, 30 June 2010 – The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East and Central Europe and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), is very concerned about the Romanian National Defence Strategy which has been adopted by the Romanian Supreme Defence Council (CSAT) and passed on to the Romanian Parliament. »»»»»

TVARM.RU, the first Armenian satellite broadcasting company headquartered in Russia, is on the verge of collapse due to financial problems. The company broadcasts free programming via HotBird across all of Russia, Europe, northern Africa and the Middle East.

Given the significance of the company’s broadcasts regarding developments in Armenia, the Association of All-Armenian Media Outlets, has called on the Armenian government to step in and help and urges news outlets in the diaspora to make an appeal for financial assistance.

Aleksan Harutyunyan, President of Armenia’s TV and Radio Council, said that come the new season in September, viewers and listeneres will have less to complain about regarding programming on the airwaves.

Mr. Harutyunyan, commenting on criticisms that programs are of low quality and that the Armenian spoken by TV and radio broadcasters is riddled with mistakes, Mr. Harutyunyan said that things are gradually getting beter. “Many have noticed that there are very few poor programs and that there numberrs are decreasing yearly and that we are doing away with Latin American soap operas, cheap humor and criminal shows.” »»»»»

VIENNA, 15 June – Despite amendments, Armenia’s new Law on Television and Radio fails to promote broadcast pluralism in the digital era, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic, said today.

The law, adopted by Parliament on 10 June, would need a presidential signature to take effect. »»»»»

The European Union Delegation issued the following statement on behalf of the EU Heads of Missions in Armenia

The EU Heads of Mission in Armenia welcome the willingness of the government to hold public consultations on the draft amendments to the law regulating the broadcasting sector and the fact that some positive changes have been introduced to the text currently under discussion, in line with recommendations by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, the Council of Europe and civil society. »»»»»