A book by the Investigative Journalists tracking acts of violence and intimidation against the media in Armenia was officially launched today at the Ourbat Club in Yerevan.

Published with the assistance of the OSCE office in Yerevan, “Violence, intimidation and legal cases against journalists and the media in Armenia; 2010-2011”, is a bilingual (Armenian, English) expose that tracks cases of violence against individual reporters and media outlets and attempts to silence freedom of speech by suing the Fourth Estate in the courts.

Lianna Sayadyan, a member of the Investigative Journalists NGO and editor of the book, noted that the decriminalization of defamation and insult, while a positive step, has had a negative impact on the media during the period monitored.

Oliver McCoy, who heads the OSCE’s Democracy Development Department in Yerevan, stated that teh book would serve as an invaluable resource for tracking media related cases in the Armenian courts.

“It will serve as a good foundation to evaluate the challenges facing the media and freedom of speech in Armenia and to formulate approaches designed to improve the situation,” said McCoy.